The following collection of ties were found inside an old leather travel pouch. Misshapen by its contents, the pouch have seen better days. The brown packing tape which was crudely wrapped around on either end of the leather tote created a compact brick of power accessories. Tucked behind some knick knacks on the top shelf of an armoire, it seems the ties have been in hiding for quite some time. It has been many years since Judge Elmo F. Del Rosario sported any of these ties, if at all. The effort to bundle then leave it hidden away behind a closet, is intriguing.

After its discovery, the pouch continued to sit unopened in the studio for a long period on top of other things waiting to be revisited. It nagged to be opened, to finally exhale its contents and reveal its secrets. But It was not until the urgency became nothing more than a slight curiosity, that the pouch was dissected. Perhaps the reason for this was procrastination, but it could also be a tactic to delay closure. Finally cutting the tape open revealed more ties than expected. The leather was lined with red tartan and had several flaps and folds. On one leather strap written in gold embossed are the words, 'neck ties' which was more charming than redundant. This detail is common to Elmo's things which are almost always categorized, monogrammed or bears his full name.

It nagged to be opened, to finally exhale its contents and reveal its secrets.

Aside from the ties that peeked from the folds, were other ties pressed inside pockets, like flowers between pages. Leather ties became petrified into awkward folds from years of being dormant. Several knitted ties in pastel colours stood the test of time and will be reincarnated in another closet. They will surely be used. Silks and polyester blends in outdated patterns were in various states of decay. Some have obviously never been worn and are still encased in the original plastic sleeve. Were they being saved for an occasion that never came? Were they purchased or gifted? How much of these ties express Elmo F. Del Rosario’s personal style?

The ties were photographed individually, on top of one of the mattresses. Each was unceremoniously dropped and shot, creating shapes that could be read like tea leaves if one so wishes. It feels good to digitize each of these things. Each tie is now immortalized in a way the packing tape failed to do.