Memento Mater
My work engages with the duality of presence and absence that is expressed by photographs and mementos in the context of bereavement.
The installations I make speak of captured moments and memories, pinning down and making concrete instants in time that can never be re-visited. These tangible records populate the functional space between the two states of being present within the human condition, namely life and death/presence and absence. Objects that begin as collected mementos transition to become ‘anchors’ for memories, made precious by their association with their collector.
Transitional objects utilised by the bereaved may take many forms, be it clothing, a favourite painting or little treasures gathered on family walks. Pieces, objects and ephemera, collected and curated as our museums of personal losses facilitate the preservation of memory through memorial, and help us to come to terms with the transient nature of our experiences.
