Reclamation of Monotony

Abstract

In a culture shaped by instant gratification and overstimulation, where attention spans are increasingly fragmented, the act of making becomes a form of resistance. Reclamation of Monotony is a body of metalwork that explores the meditative potential of repetition through the use of Russian filigree, wire wrapping, and enameling techniques. These practices are slow, methodical, and often monotonous. The process of coiling wires, wrapping and binding forms, filling cells with enamel, firing, and finishing requires sustained concentration and presence. Rather than viewing monotony as a creative limitation, this work embraces it as a site of depth, ritual, and focus. This thesis frames my studio process as an embodied rebellion against the pace and pressure of contemporary digital life. Through intentional slowness and attention to detail, each piece asserts the value of patience, presence, and the handmade. The resulting work becomes both a record of time spent and a counterpoint to the disembodied immediacy of modern consumption. By foregrounding the tactile, the repetitive, and the unhurried, this project seeks to reclaim monotony not as boredom, but as devotion.