"They have gathered here to celebrate what is absent. It is important to celebrate what is not present. It is a way of paying tribute," explains Tessi.

In Absence, the boxes are crowned with sculpted busts that appear capable of speaking, inviting viewers to imagine the stories, voices, and memories each figure might carry. The installation becomes a space for reflection, where absence is not understood as emptiness, but as remembrance and acknowledgment.

Its placement draws inspiration from the African tradition of the palaver tree, where communities gather to discuss matters of collective importance, exchange news, and resolve differences. By invoking this symbolic meeting place, Tessi transforms the installation into a forum for dialogue—one where memory, silence, and the unseen remain active participants in the conversation.