My son came to visit unexpectedly and as the studio was open on Saturday we popped in so that he could see my work. I was telling him about my intention to hang a wall of photo’s and he offered to help me get it started.
Before I left for the weekend, I had placed the fabric sculpture in the corner of the wall opposite the eyes canvas, when I walked in to the space on Saturday it looked as if it belonged there – decision made.
That left the outside entrance for the photo wall, the more I considered the space the more I felt that this was the perfect space for it sitting, as it did, alongside the fabric canvas. I am going to hang the photographs on the wall with panel pins. The wall will be like a pin map of my life shot through with the nails of abuse. this links to the crucifixes which feature in two of my paintings, signifiers of my catholic upbringing.
There is also a strong connection between the photo wall and the fabric piece. Family snapshots have a power disconnect because you have no control over the way you are depicted. Both pieces work in the same way, I had no control over what was happening to me and the happy smiling faces in the photographs hide what was really going on.
Starting the photo wall.
Photograph taken by Tricia Cottrell (2015)
