Ascension on Delay

I have had the Ascension Series for almost two years now, yet I have not put it out for exhibition.

Why, you ask?

It had the look and the messaging I was aiming for, and most importantly, the feeling I was searching for. However, because it was part of my experimental pieces, there were technical flaws that I simply could not ignore. I was told by a papier-mâché expert that adding salt to a flour-paste mixture was enough to prevent mold. While that may be true, other references and mentors made me realize that this method was simply unacceptable if I wanted the series to be archival.

And so, I held back. I stored the pieces away for a while, only using them for photoshoots and keeping them for sentimental reasons, as they were the very first batch of the series. The stubborn bull in me insisted on taking my time to prep this series, refusing to release it until I was absolutely certain of its durability.

The Lesson Found

While that process is still underway, this experience has taught me how deeply I value quality and my own instincts. It also showed me how much time I squander by waiting and feeling things out until the "truest" time for them to emerge. Hopefully, now that I am older, I won’t do that as much. To be completely honest, I was lagging behind instead of locking in. At this stage in my life, I need to be more serious, and I guess that is one of the beauties of aging.

The ideas that have stayed with me the longest have taken root deep within my heart. Meanwhile, the ones that merely occupied my time without truly resonating with my soul have already withered and died. The ideas I hold onto now have stood the test of time, proving themselves worthy of my energy, focus, soul, and practically my life.

Moving Forward

I have plenty of artistic plans for this series—something I am genuinely looking forward to building. The fact that my interest and curiosity haven't wavered only proves that this was exactly what I was meant to do. Besides, I need to put this out into the world because the other projects in my mind are starting to pile up.

Exciting times are coming.