ENDLESS QUILT
2012. Reclaimed WA blackbutt timber & steel
KINSHIP IN DESIGN
The 'Endless Quilt' project examines notions of revealing uncovered and forgotten history; history as a constant state of 'becoming'.
The work makes visible and tangible past stories and heirloom objects which are otherwise hidden to avoid deterioration and subsequent loss. The project involved examining family history, researching stories through verbal discussions, a published WW2 diary, and examining personal memorabilia and domestic home objects.
The purpose was to uncover details that spoke of the generational relationships, times, places, activities and events that shape family culture and the subsequent lives of the future generations and express these stories within the work. By transforming these stories into something visual, tactile and legible the often, forgotten stories are now made present and accessible. The artwork acts as a reminder of the importance of family history and its influence on future generations.
Conceived as a wooden quilt it draws upon the rich traditions of narrative quilt making. Its modular series of parts allows the objects to be handed down to more than one heir. Future custodians of the artwork can add and subtract components in a way in which allows for the reconstruction of identity and personalisation. The intention is to provide meaningful work that truly addresses the nature of identity and meaning in intergenerational artworks and heirlooms.
“The wall-mounted piece features moveable, hinged sections, allowing users to familiarize themselves with its inner workings, and therefore develops meaning and memory through use. Its tactile nature associates the owner with its material composition, illustrating that the tangibility of the domestic ‘things’ can initiate meaningful and varied engagements in the material realm.”
