grasping one’s place in the present Does "grasping one’s place in the present" in the last line of the following context mean "to represent the situation and condition of a person in the present time"? Context: Scratching has as its subject—through an elaborate chart, lectures delivered by the artist, and newspaper and other clippings—the entirety of the Arab art world. Ra’ad’s installation points to a network of individuals and institutions that presently constitute it, and also to the vast monetary sums that are fueling its expansion. The project is an almost manic continuation of Ra’ad’s drive to collect, present, and synthesize data as a means of grasping one’s place in the present.