In The Moment
Identity/Self
Sculpture/Light
Catharsis/Memory
Moving Image

Visit My Blog
Facebook Group

Review

Bare was my graduate project at Middlesex University. The installation consisted of a collection of soft toys, which has been submitted by members of the public through an online campaign. The submitted toys had to be associated with a bad memory, which was entered into a downloadable form. These forms were displayed on the walls of the space, along with the toys, which each sat on a large black plinth. The space was representative of a mausoleum.

The work was based loosely on Japanese 'Shinto' religion, and included a ritualistic 'cleansing' room in which the audience could destroy a soft toy of their choosing. This ritual sacrifice was intended to release the bad memories associated with the toy in its destruction. Before the cleansing the participants hands were doused in clean, pure water, and a candle was lit. When the toy had been destroyed, its remains were placed in a pile in the centre of the mausoleum space and the candle was placed on its plinth.

Bare was performed and exhibited at the Euroart Gallery, Tottenham, May 14th 2005. The remains of the toys were then encased in a Perspex tomb, and laid to rest at the Old Truman Brewery space in my second graduate show, Jun 2nd - 6th 2005 as part of 'Free Range'