The Alternative Archive |Peel
Contemporary Art Spaces Mandurah , 2019
Contemporary Art Spaces Mandurah , 2019
Whilst visiting Mandurah in the early 1980’s Lyn spent an evening with friends fishing from the Old Mandurah Traffic Bridge (Old Bridge) and in spite of limited fishing experience, it culminated with catching the largest fish amongst the regular fishers. Naturally, the recollection of this night and the size of the fish, differs slightly each time it is told.
Inspired by the significant community discussion and divided opinions regarding the removal and replacement of the Old Bridge in 2017, the work ‘Connection’ investigates the archives and collective community memories associated with the previous bridge. The installation, comprising of a traditional slide show and remnants of the fishing platform from the Old Bridge, seeks to question how memory, recollections and archives interact to create a version of history. This work presents existing archives of newspaper articles, images and records juxtaposed with personal stories and memories. ‘Connection’ seeks to visually interrogate how we individually select and curate our memories to form our own personal historical narrative.
In early 2018 the Mandurah City Council provided the opportunity for local residents to receive a ‘souvenir size’ piece of the Old Bridge. ‘Fragments’ is a visual archive tracing the destination of these timber segments. The work invites the viewer to consider how we collect, display and use objects to connect us with memory. Researchers investigating memory refer to this as ‘extended’ cognition, where an object can act as a scaffold and builds pathways to memories.
Lyn Nixon is a local artist working primarily with photography, printmaking and installations. Her practice explores impermanence and the impact of change on the human condition, particularly in times of uncertainty. .
Inspired by the significant community discussion and divided opinions regarding the removal and replacement of the Old Bridge in 2017, the work ‘Connection’ investigates the archives and collective community memories associated with the previous bridge. The installation, comprising of a traditional slide show and remnants of the fishing platform from the Old Bridge, seeks to question how memory, recollections and archives interact to create a version of history. This work presents existing archives of newspaper articles, images and records juxtaposed with personal stories and memories. ‘Connection’ seeks to visually interrogate how we individually select and curate our memories to form our own personal historical narrative.
In early 2018 the Mandurah City Council provided the opportunity for local residents to receive a ‘souvenir size’ piece of the Old Bridge. ‘Fragments’ is a visual archive tracing the destination of these timber segments. The work invites the viewer to consider how we collect, display and use objects to connect us with memory. Researchers investigating memory refer to this as ‘extended’ cognition, where an object can act as a scaffold and builds pathways to memories.
Lyn Nixon is a local artist working primarily with photography, printmaking and installations. Her practice explores impermanence and the impact of change on the human condition, particularly in times of uncertainty. .
'Connection' - Installation image| Archive image projected onto salvaged timber from the Old Mandurah Bridge | 240cm x 120cm
'Fragments' Selected image from installation of 100 images provided by the Mandurah community | 17cmx12cm
[Alternative Archive]
John Curtin Gallery 2021 : Catalogue statement
'Lyn Nixon’s work operates as an authentic and extensive portrait of the Mandurah community by capturing the essence of a person or household through their creative responses using the wood boards from the decommissioned Mandurah Bridge. This work is a contemporary archive of place, captured through the submitted amateur photography of the Mandurah residents use of the boardwalk samples the council provided and represents a refreshing way to depict the hearts and minds of a community. Nixon playfully creates a scaffold that holds an archive of community memories and honours a sense of pride in civic landmarks. Working in print, photography, mixed media and installations Nixon has been a practicing artist for 10 years.'
John Curtin Gallery 2021 : Catalogue statement
'Lyn Nixon’s work operates as an authentic and extensive portrait of the Mandurah community by capturing the essence of a person or household through their creative responses using the wood boards from the decommissioned Mandurah Bridge. This work is a contemporary archive of place, captured through the submitted amateur photography of the Mandurah residents use of the boardwalk samples the council provided and represents a refreshing way to depict the hearts and minds of a community. Nixon playfully creates a scaffold that holds an archive of community memories and honours a sense of pride in civic landmarks. Working in print, photography, mixed media and installations Nixon has been a practicing artist for 10 years.'
Fragments [detail], 2019 Photographs based on images supplied by the Mandurah community
Fragments, 2021 Installation images John Curtin Gallery. Images: Sue-Lyn Moyle