1930

Tracing memory through disappearance.

1930 is a sculptural candle inspired by a historic Palestinian cement tile pattern. The title refers to the year the original metal mould for this design was created, anchoring the work within a specific moment of Palestinian material history.

The project reflects on the disappearance of meaning rather than the disappearance of objects themselves. While historic Palestinian cement tiles continue to exist in many homes and public buildings, the stories they carry are increasingly forgotten. 1930 explores this quiet erosion of cultural memory through an object whose very existence depends on transformation.

Drawing on the tradition of memento mori, where candles have long symbolised the fleeting nature of life, the work invites reflection on how memories are preserved, altered, and eventually fade.

The candle rests on a plain cement plinth cast using the original tile mould, but intentionally left without its decorative pattern. As the candle burns, coloured wax drips onto the concrete surface below, gradually reconstructing the historic motif. The pattern can only emerge through the candle's disappearance; the object must be consumed in order for the image to return.

Concrete and wax exist in deliberate contrast. One suggests permanence, architecture, and endurance; the other is fragile, fluid, and temporary. Together they create a dialogue between what remains and what is inevitably lost, allowing the passage of time to become physically visible.