I think about shrines a lot. I restored a few, I wrote papers about them when I was at the university.
I once thought about them as a reminder of guilt, particularly women's guilt.
Over the years I learned to resignify them. I intend to disconnect shrines from being only religious iconographies and I want them to be something more intimate, something more related to ones’ memories and feelings other than of deities or icons.
When I was living in Spain I made a series of small shrines and hung them on the walls of a gallery in Barcelona. I invited the visitors to place a loving object or something they were carrying in the shrines for a little while. There was a lipstick in one, a love note on another, key chains, a small photo...
It was really interesting to see how my shrines became somebody else's shrines the moment these personal objects were placed in them. Also, I love the idea of shrines being portable, maybe because I moved so much throughout my life, and it's comforting to know I can always have a familiar space to pay homage to something or someone, whenever I am.
I think they embelish our ceremonies. They frame our intentions, and that can be a beautiful thing.
I'm planning a new shrine collection for this year, and if you want a custom piece just send me a message.
I'll love to hear your story.