The Odyssey of Objects

Recyclebinproject is an ongoing exploration of memory, objects, and shared human experience. Conceived as a series of episodes, the project invites the exchange of personal mementos as a way of crossing geographical and cultural boundaries. Each episode unfolds in a new location, reshaping the project’s narrative through the stories and contexts contributed by its participants.

The project began in Tehran in 2018, where I presented a collection of my own mementos, each carefully documented with its accompanying story. Exhibition visitors were invited to take part in a direct exchange: offering one of their own objects, along with its personal significance, in return for one of mine. This process resulted in nearly one hundred exchanges, each object layered with both its original and newly assigned histories.

Since then, the collection has traveled to Paris, Finland, and Vienna, where the exchange was repeated with local communities. Each iteration adds fresh narratives, perspectives, and cultural contexts, transforming the mementos into a living archive of collective memory. By the time Recyclebinproject reaches Episode Six, at the Vasl Artists’ Residency in Karachi, Pakistan, the objects have already embarked on a global journey, carrying with them an evolving tapestry of human connection.

At its core, Recyclebinproject reflects on the power of objects as repositories of memory and as conduits between individuals and cultures. Through the act of exchange, these ordinary items are reactivated, gaining new meaning as they circulate. What emerges is a shared narrative that transcends borders—a reminder that personal histories, however intimate, can resonate universally