At the heart of the artwork "THE BURDEN ON WHITE SPACES" Lero transforms the humble shoebox into a container laden with meaning, filled with memories woven into the subtle fabric of everyday life. The act of opening the box, a simple yet profound gesture, becomes the gateway to a world of emotions and reflections.

Through a meticulous and delicate process, each individual photograph is liberated from its white frame, a symbolic act of detachment from the past to make room for the present and future. The choice to remove these frames represents an act of reclaiming one's own history, an affirmation of the desire to redefine the boundaries of one's identity.

The use of a scale as a scientific tool to measure the weight of the white spaces tangibly highlights the impact of voids in memory. It is a bold exploration of the balance between presence and absence, between what has been and what could be.

At the core of this work lies the tension between the desire to preserve memories and the need to make space for new experiences. The shoebox thus becomes a symbol of our ongoing search for balance between the past and the future, between nostalgia and hope.

In the exhibition context, "THE BURDEN ON WHITE SPACES" presents itself as an immersive and interactive experience. Spectators are invited to explore the exhibit, immersing themselves in the intimacy of a past enclosed in a simple shoebox. The photographs, displayed with care and without frames, float freely in the exhibition space, inviting observers to reflect on their personal relationship with the concepts of memory and change.

Through this installation, the artist encourages a profound reflection on the ever-changing nature of memories and the importance of being open to change. The possibility of inserting new photographs into the shoebox opens the door to a future yet to be written, underscoring the ongoing evolution of individual and collective identity. In this way, "THE BURDEN ON WHITE SPACES" reveals itself not only as an artistic project but also as a vivid testament to the complexity and beauty of the human experience.

Urbino, 2023

Photography
Lorenzo Urgesi

Supervisors
Erik Kessels