Wander, Wonder : beyond the window 2025, Richmond, VA
Much of contemporary life is spent navigating screens—digital “windows” that trade direct engagement with the physical world for fleeting, superficial interactions. Algorithms have become a digital form of walking, guiding our experiences along predetermined, linear paths shaped by clicks, preferences, and interests.
In contrast, physical walking offers a quiet mode of resistance: an embodied, nonlinear movement through the city. Familiar spaces become unfamiliar; fleeting moments are gathered, rearranged, and imbued with new meaning. Rhythm of walking synchronizes with a series of thoughts, allowing each step to unfold the landscape’s story.
While information today is more abundant than ever, it often carries less meaning. Movement frequently outpaces the rhythm of thought. Walking becomes a way of reclaiming attention, offering an alternative tempo that reveals how we perceive the built environment.
There are three sites on the way to the Pollak Building where I’ve spent most of my time during the MFA program. This project is an experiment in how I engage with the city of Richmond—how I used to walk down its streets, observe my surroundings, and embrace accidental moments.
scanned collage site map
installation view
photo credit: Arghavan Heydareslam