Imagination and fantasy are core features of our lives. We imagine ourselves into a different story whether we’re watching a movie, reading a book or seeing a play. It’s a means of escape and yet, we always find ourselves reflected back. Every piece of human-made artwork features human feelings. Even looking beyond our own experiences ultimately takes those as our point of departure.

With this piece, I want to address the codification of imagination. We package our stories to be played out on stage, by professionals, for a predetermined duration. Our everyday struggles and successes fit neatly into a satisfying narrative. 130 minutes is the average duration of the most popular movies in the USA – it is also the title of my piece. In our constantly updating news feeds, 130 minutes is both all it takes — and at times all there is, to imagine oneself in a different context.

I chose stained glass because this is a medium we see most often in churches and other places of worship. But I want to bring it into the everyday, the mundane, and question whether art and entertainment are acceptable forms of worship.