As we progress through life, as individuals and as a culture, we decide what to hold onto and what to let go of. As individuals we hold onto mementos that serve to remind us of specific experiences and moments in life. the passing of time shifts the importance of this ephemera and we let them go. tastes evolve - clothing, hairstyles, music and other material and spiritual things are cast aside and replaced by that which reflects who we are here and now. Even more challenging is when some of us must cast aside our nationalities, our homes, our family and our friends. Some of us shed traits that served a particular age, and some of us are able to let go of mental and emotional anxieties and traumas that have been eased with time. With great effort we cast away our preconceived notions, our biases, and even our world views. As a culture we agree on letting go of archaic, racist and sexist attitudes. We believe that these decisions will create a stronger healthier community, only to be revised, released and replaced again over time.

The reasons for these releases are varied but all integral to our maturation and development as human beings and communities. we must remember that even though we shed and replace, everything remains part of our individual, social and cultural tapestries - defining where we came from, who we were, who we are today and who we can become.

Written by Saskia van Kampen

Read an interview with Saskia about SHED here.