For the final installation of my birdhouse project, I wanted to capture the stages of the candles decay from multiple angles, with focus on its presence in the space as a whole, in addition to the layered details formed as a result of the built up wax. The piece was installed in the center of what I consider to be home, on the dining room table, between the living room and foyer, where my family and I spend a lot of time together. I originally wanted to consider this installation with the inclusion of my family, but I decided it wouldn’t match with the final scale of the project, and ultimately, wanted to emphasize the birdhouse within the space. The process of this installation took about an hour; I utilized a specific kind of candle (“drip candles”) that have a wax that purposefully drips down the sides as it melts and turns into “waxicles” or layered wax structures. I purposefully chose an assortment of colors that would be representative of myself and my evolution in this space, as the centerpiece in the installment. As I documented, I wanted to ensure that I was capturing the essence of the space, while simultaneously highlighting the beautiful layers created as a result of the melting wax. 

Originally, I wanted my piece to be symbolic of my current feelings of home. A warm place I hold close to my heart, but also a place I find that I’ve outgrown. This is a space that has seen my evolution, and a place I fear I might plateau. The installation serves as a palimpsest, the idle memories of home as it was perceived when I was a child being temporarily overwritten by my perception of home as an adult. I still believe that this piece captures what I was originally trying to express. It stands out among the other trinkets that are featured on the table, an odd and colorful accession. 

Overall, I believe my installation was successful and I really enjoyed the process of creation (and destruction). At its completion, I now have a different understanding of home and what it means to me, and will continue to mean to me, at different points in my life.