Precious

What is precious? 

If you catch a bird and clasp it in your hand, it panics; you release it in the air and you witness the beauty of nature aligned in its element. Every precious thing has been lent to us.

In this exhibition, I share my perspective on how our psychological framework influences what we deem precious in our presence; why we hold onto the 'precious' so tightly and what happens if and when we let go. I look at how we construct identities, seek safety and process loss in relation to the 'Precious'.

Our minds assign importance to experiences; to things; to relationships; to people, according to the impact they have on us. We attach and project meaning to what we own - or think we own. We see things: our experiences; people; relationships, unconsciously as extensions of who we are and we form our identities around them: it's safe; it's familiar. We deem them precious and reject anything that poses a threat to them; we cling onto them to avoid loss, perhaps out of fear. But, what if we disengage; rethink: where does value truly lie? What's really precious here and now? What if we detach and relinquish control? It might just turn out that if we trust in humility; look on the inside; make the most of today, we may just discover what is truly precious.

Florence Wangui, 2026

Precious II, Florence Wangui 2026

Biography