Collecting memories; Some people collect and squirrel away everything from a long life, whilst others carefully select individual objects which are charged with special meaning, and then some people pick up what others throw away. Our lives are narrated through the objects with which we surround ourselves.
The work I currently make takes a lighthearted look at a childhood spent surrounded by my Father’s collections of vintage machinery. His passion for all things mechanical would encircle and invade our house, and dismantled defunct contraptions with all the associated paraphernalia would make themselves quite at home amongst our everyday belongings. For him these machines and objects were a source of amusement, distracting him from daily life. For me they were a fascinating portal into his world through which I would often take a peek and try to learn more.
Drawing inspiration from these themes I create collections of playful jewellery and objects. Colour and print play a vital role in my work. I create mixed media pieces by combining printed anodised aluminium with silver, semi-precious stones and many colourful objet trouvé. By juxtaposing these found and altered objects with my highly patterned metals and nonsensical mechanical inventions I hope to create something, which has both familiar and yet foreign associations, perhaps triggering a vague memory for the viewer and hopefully making them smile!
statement
The work I currently make takes a lighthearted look at a childhood spent surrounded by my Father’s collections of vintage machinery. His passion for all things mechanical would encircle and invade our house, and dismantled defunct contraptions with all the associated paraphernalia would make themselves quite at home amongst our everyday belongings. For him these machines and objects were a source of amusement, distracting him from daily life. For me they were a fascinating portal into his world through which I would often take a peek and try to learn more.
Lindsey Mann