Some Spectral Muse (2013)

The work in this series uses the photograph to explore the relationship between the image, memory and coming to terms with trauma. Created over a period of two years, these visual experiments began with response to a collection of snapshots, which became the visual ground to prompt remembrance. This process was aided by structured and recorded conversations with a psychotherapist, to explore the inter-relationship between the photograph as visual trigger, and site for the reconstruction of memory from a broken narrative. Working into the surface of the image was important, along with iterative cycles of return within the processes used. Using the skin-like quality of photo-emulsion lifts, the images were transferred onto a range of surfaces and then hand-sewn into artist books, as a form of containment and closure. The suggestion of wounding and rupturing of the surface or skin of the image, in the first album Huhtikuu (below), inspired the second piece Bloodbook, which included my own blood as a material to transcribe and exorcise memories. The mixed-media pieces Skins and drawing series Some Spectral Muse were created in tandem with the artist books.