„The Knocking“ The initial six stanzas herald the Raven’s arrival, described by Poe as an unlocatable tapping. To represent this, I devised a timing mechanism that randomly activates six ‚knockers‘ mounted on the room’s various surfaces. Standing within the space, one is enveloped by an irregular cadence of knocks.

„Memories“ Poe evokes the memory of various beloveds. Given the fictional nature of the Raven’s addressee, I chose not to employ a generic period portrait but instead drew from Poe’s personal life – his wife Virginia, who died prematurely, leaving him deeply bereaved. I discovered an oval portrait of her in a book, which served as the foundation for an altar-like table. All lines of the table and the orientations of the objects placed upon it—image and candles—converge at a point six feet beneath the floor, symbolizing the depth of a grave.

„Sorrow“ Weeping and tears are emblematic of sorrow. This is visualized through a vessel containing saltwater. As it evaporates in the sunlight, condensate accumulates on the inward-curving lid, then drips down, creating an eternal cycle.

„Resignation“ In these final stanzas, Poe conveys a profound sense of resignation, expressing that nothing will ever be the same. He signifies this through the description of a shadow cast upon his tombstone. Consequently, it seemed fitting to inscribe the poem’s final words on a gravestone.