︎


Tears of Memory 


This work is an emotional response to some of the profoundest moments within the archive, using charcoal, the most visceral of materials, to re-visualise them. My process of drawing over photographs and reacting to documents happens instinctively. Charcoal also represents the ash of the dead.





With these pieces I am utilising some of the most striking statements made by my ancestors; drawing the spirit from their words reanimates these moments in time.

In the weeks before his death in the trenches my great-grandfather wrote: “My dear ones, we are still living in holes in the ground, but they are so comfortable that we could not ask for anything better. I wish you could see how idyllic it is here. Your eyes, ears and nose would be surprised. Warm regards to you all.” These are just a few of the words across this expansive archive. Through my own contemporary lens I can give new life to this collection. I take seriously the responsibility to use my art to bring this story to wider attention and build memorials that will continue to resonate.
Running on Cargo