Mountain

by Kevin G Lam

During the span of two weeks, I recorded data after every workout I completed at the gym. This art piece is based on a subjective question that I asked myself after each session: How many mountains do you feel like you can lift or conquer? In addition to this, I also drew a mountain shape based on my feeling and I associated each day to a keyword that best described each workout. With the keyword, rating and sketch, I was able to build and mold my mountains.

My project is an emotional and subjective approach to the Quantified Self Movement. It is also an attempt at beautifying and visually representing confidence and ego. Symbolically, each poster represents a mountain that I have conquered. The color strips on each mountain is the visual representation of the rating I gave myself. The base of the mountain is 0 and, as we get closer to the top, the summit is 7.  The accompanying topographic maps provide details of the day I conquer each mountain. The maps also contain a point and a number. Figuratively, that is the “highest point” of the mountain. It is the total amount of weight (in pounds) I lifted during each session.  These mountains are very personal and all have their own characteristics and personalities. I consider them as stepping stones to the bigger mountains I will need to climb throughout life.