L ocation
National Museum, Manila, Philippines
D ate February 25, 2016
Parting Shot
a v isual endnote
By Eldry John Infante
I’ve always had a curiosity for restricted areas. I couldn’t resist taking a
sneak peek at the museum’s storage room, which is a fascinating display in
itself. Teeming with artifacts and memorabilia from eons past, it got me
to ponder about the ephemeral nature of human existence and the means
by which we try to mark memory. As a specie, we are special in a way that
we get to ponder our existence beyond mere survival; we desire to live
long, meaningful lives, and for people around us to remember us by when
the time comes for one to go. We have a long, deep-seated fear of fading
into oblivion. For me, the urge to preserve and store these artifacts, big or
small, mundane or unorthodox, is actually a courageous response to such a
fear. Memory helps bring these dusty objects to life. These are the physical,
visual markers of our existence as individuals, as a race and as a species.
For as long as someone remembers, one does not really fully fade away.
See more of Eldry John’s architectural photography
and illustration work on Instagram @eldryjohn
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