Installation of ‘Absence’ at the IFFTI 2015 multidisciplinary conference in Florence Italy.

The conference theme “Momenting the Memento” focused on six areas of enquiry – Body, Calligraphy, Craft, Dress, Imagery and Space. ‘Absence’ was one of 26 installations and was positioned in the crypt of the Santa Croce.

‘Absence’ is the culmination of traditional leatherwork techniques combined with contemporary mould making practices, incorporating the inverted silicone mould into the finished piece. The purpose of the absence collection is to explore the extent to which personal possessions can be used to harbor emotions by transforming inanimate object into a personal reliquary or shrine. Objects were chosen that related to particular specific people. Drawing upon personal possessions such as jewellery, garments and luggage that had been abandoned artefacts were created from inverted moulds and solid components to identify the space in which a person leaves behind.

The positioning of the work alongside specific individual crypts within the Santa Croce allowed a relatable dialogue between possession and owner to take place, resulting in the artefacts being displayed along the length of the crypt.