15 Minutes of Fame begins with a simple but potent question: What does it mean to be seen? On one hand, this exhibition draws inspiration from Andy Warhol’s prescient observation that “in the future, everyone will be world-famous for 15 minutes.”
Here, that idea unfolds as ritual: every fifteen minutes, a single lamp is ceremoniously plugged in and illuminated. For a fleeting moment, it becomes the star of the room, radiant, singular, fully seen. On the other hand, 15 Minutes is a love letter to the animated worlds of childhood. Raised on films like The Brave Little Toaster, Beauty and the Beast, and Toy Story, it feels only natural, as an adult, to look at a lamp and wonder what it might be like if it came to life.
As a satellite to Persona, this installation continues our exploration of human identity, this time through the lens of performance, ephemerality, and recognition. The slow rotation of light becomes a metaphor for the rhythms of fame: the thrill of anticipation, the intensity of the spotlight, and the inevitable return to stillness. These moments echo a deeper cultural tension between visibility and invisibility, between being chosen and being overlooked.
While Persona reflects on the enduring nature of identity, 15 Minutes of Fame offers a poignant counterpoint. It asks us to consider how quickly recognition can arrive and just as quickly fade, and how, even in dormancy, objects (like people) retain presence, purpose, and a desire to be witnessed. But this exhibition is not only about fame. It is also about potential. Each lamp, even when unlit, is sculptural and complete, a poised icon full of personality.
Their value extends beyond functionality. They don’t need to perform to be beautiful. Inspired by Warhol and shaped by the spirit of childhood imagination, 15 Minutes of Fame invites viewers to slow down, to observe, and to find meaning in each interval. It is a celebration of individuality, possibility, and the quiet grace of taking turns to shine.
