Threshold, 1997 - 2007

A collection of 12 sisal doormats, commercially printed. Doormats 25"x 18". Installation dimensions variable. 

In this conceptual installation, doormats emblazoned with the name of a country are disseminated for utilization in both domestic and institutional environments. As individuals traverse these thresholds, wiping their shoes on the mats gradually erodes the inscribed name of the nation, thereby transforming a quotidian activity into a potent symbolic gesture. This work serves as a nuanced commentary on the erosion of national identity, implicating each participant in a complex act of complicity.

The project engages deeply with the intricate dynamics of identity formation and dissolution. In a world where identity is increasingly fluid and multifaceted, erasing a country's name through such a mundane activity raises poignant questions about the fragility and impermanence of national and individual identities. It problematizes the notion that identity is a stable, unchanging construct, instead presenting it as something that can be easily worn away through daily actions, whether consciously or unconsciously. This erosion serves as a metaphor for the larger sociopolitical processes that often dilute or redefine national identities, implicating not just governments or institutions but individuals in their everyday lives.

The project also interrogates the spaces where identity is formed and performed by situating this work in domestic and institutional settings. It suggests that the erosion of identity is not confined to any sphere but is a pervasive phenomenon in both private and public arenas. In this way, the work is a compelling exploration of the complexities and contradictions inherent in constructing identity in contemporary society.