The Ontologica Philosophy
A Philosophy Within A Philosophy
As a former undergraduate student of philosophy, I knew I needed a name for this project that reflected the ideas I was trying to promote with these pieces: existence is ephemeral, but so special; we are made of everything that everything else is made of; things of unique value are to be handled with care; some things cannot be replaced; we should be conscious of the moments we experience and of the possessions that we hold.
Not just that, but I wanted to encourage curiosity about the pieces; I wanted each piece not to be simply jewelry or a sculpture, but a specimen to examine--part of something that was once a living, breathing, experiencing creature--just like us. I wanted for people to contemplate the thing--not simply to wear or admire it.
I had originally had my heart set on some etymology to do with the human ordering of nature, but:
A. It didn't get great reviews from friends, family, and associates when I asked for feedback.
B. I realized, reaching back into the sleepy, cobwebbed corners of my philosophical brain, after months of pulling my hair out during hours-long google searches and rigorous thesaurus reviews, that there was a word that simply spoke straight to the heart of a message characterized by the nebulousness of existence: Ontology.
Ontology is, depending on who you ask, a branch of metaphysics. It is also, depending on who you ask, a branch of logic. It is also, depending on who you ask, neither of these things, and instead precedes philosophy entirely given that, at it's core, Ontology is simply the study of Being, and of all that, ostensibly, "is". It's the study of existence and all that it encompasses, and it doesn't get any less convoluted from there.
If it sounds confusing, it is! And it isn't. Like existence. It's entirely high-minded, and inexplicably simple. Like existence. It is all the paradoxes of all the great minds at once, and provides none of the concrete answers to them. Like existence.
The philosophy behind this project is that this existence is a thing of wonder.
That it is irreplaceable.
That we exist so similarly to the very objects I use to create these pieces.
That we, like them, are fragile, and unrepeatable.
We share roughly 70% of our DNA with mollusks; that means I share 70% of my DNA with the very work I'm producing . And I think that's a pretty incredible way to feel connected to one's art and brand.