Frames: Containers of Changes
Hongting(Ting) Shen
Frames, as containers, gather and organize disparate elements into cohesive narratives. Nāgārjuna, the Buddhist
philosopher, reminds us that nothing exists in isolation; all things arise through relation. Through thought, language,
and the intangible boundaries of human relationships, Frames shape cognition, filtering our understanding of both self
and world. Like a window in a metaphorical way (as we see, read, and interpret), the desk reveals the workings of Frames
through time, space, and engagement with objects. As both literal container and metaphorical vessel, it shows how
Frames, through research and observation, generate maps of contour, behavior, time, and topography.
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This photo captures a book read during the April 26, 2025, book fair. Its cloth cover invites traces from readers,
allowing time and touch to shape its unique story. The book itself is both a frame and a container — holding marks,
memories, and unfolding narratives.
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Containers, a container book, and scans of the container book.
Vimeo link.
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Scans of Containers.
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Maps of Desks
Seven interviewees and their desks: [Contour Maps], [Time-Event Maps], [Frequency Maps], [Behavioral Maps]. This motion is based on Moyan Sun’s desk. Following our interview, I created three types of maps._Shen_05.jpeg)
Indexes
“Chronological” index and alphabetical index for all images(Frames) in the book._Shen_06.gif)
Entanglements with the Frameology book