By Mohsen Veysi (Artist-Creator) and Sterling Undem (Co-Author)
Mixed Media, Artist Book, 2024
Reflections in Passing delves into the dynamic interplay between creator and beholder, exploring how meaning emerges through shared perception. Rooted in the concept of the Beholder’s Share—the idea that viewers complete an artwork by bringing their own experiences and interpretations—this project serves as a daily visual journal created between September 25 and November 11, 2024.
The project begins with STOP!, an ink wash of a figure seated in a desperate and uncertain posture. This piece captures a pivotal moment when I was forced to leave my job due to debilitating back pain, evoking feelings of entrapment and indecision. From this point, the series reflects my shifting emotions—from pain and uncertainty to gradual healing and reflection.
Each day, I crafted a new drawing or painting inspired by my surroundings and internal thoughts. These works vary in style, ranging from abstract forms to representational studies, yet are unified by their place in a temporal narrative. Sterling Undem, my collaborator and witness, viewed each piece upon completion and contributed reflections and titles that shaped their interpretation. Importantly, I refrained from sharing my original intentions, allowing Sterling to engage with the work entirely from his perspective. This approach underscored the Beholder’s Share, making his input an integral part of the creative process.
To extend this shared perception to future viewers, the project culminates in a handmade artist book. Each work is mounted on coffee-tinted cardboard, accompanied by an envelope containing its title, date, and technique—handwritten on the back. These details remain hidden, inviting viewers to bring their own interpretations, independent of the artist’s or collaborator’s perspectives. This design keeps the dialogue open, encouraging new layers of meaning with each interaction.
The book’s warm tones evoke timelessness and discovery, while the fabric binding and calligraphic cover emphasize its tactile, handmade quality. The final piece, completed on November 11, 2024, is a meta-poetry painting inspired by a deeply personal poem. Sterling’s title, We Need to Stay Together, offered without knowledge of the underlying story, underscores the synchronicity and shared resonance that defined this journey.
Ultimately, Reflections in Passing becomes more than a visual journal. It is a testament to art’s ability to reflect, transform, and connect. By embracing the concept of the Beholder’s Share, the project reinforces art’s enduring capacity to transcend time, individual experience, and perception. As an artist and researcher in neuroaesthetics, this project also served as a lived experiment, exploring how art fosters shared meaning and connection through multidisciplinary engagement.
This book also includes images from When I Need a Pause!, a project that captures a poignant moment in time, preserving a landscape on the brink of transformation. The inclusion of these works extends the dialogue initiated in Reflections in Passing, offering an opportunity for viewers to reflect further on art’s power to hold space for connection and introspection.
