As mortals, we all feel the need to leave our mark on the world. With graffiti, aside from the common defacing of an object, there is a yearning for immortality and a desire that the marks we leave will long outlast our short existence. In her solo show at the Black Swan Arts Centre, Beatrice Haines explores this quest through the intentional traces left in the wooden over-bed tables found at Marlborough College’s Sanatorium by the resident pupils. Haines records the snippets of text and images scrawled deep into the surface of the tables, offering an intimate insight into the lives, thoughts, feelings and dreams of these students. The installation serves as a poignant reminder of the human spirit with text such as ‘Like this table I’m in with a broken leg”. It documents personal journeys and suffering with graffiti alluding to individual’s illness. Captions such as “PAL Houseman Small Pox, Infantile Paralysis” and “Flu 1948” are all evident and can be deciphered or decoded amongst the cacophony of messages.. Beatrice Haines lives and works in Wiltshire and London. She will give a talk about her work in the gallery on Sunday 28th September. Opening Event: Friday 5th September (all welcome) Exhibition Continues: Saturday 6th September – Sunday 5th October (except Sunday 14th & 21st) Artist Talk: Sunday 28th September, 2:30pm. |