Gabriella Vukman
Exploring the relationship between memory and place, the exhibition ‘Shaped by Memory’ by Jessica Harris, is on at the Warburton Arts Centre.
Having successfully opened in late August, the exhibition is free and open to the public until October 22.
Artist Jessica Harris described her work as “trying to visualise the inner landscape, specifically focusing on memories and how they connect us to different places within our lives.”
“I wanted to depict the emotions and feelings on the inside of people that you don’t normally see,” Jessica said.
The works encompass a range of divergent media forms, from ink to works with light installations.
Jessica has been exhibiting since 2002, however this is her third, solo exhibit.
“The Regional Exhibitions program conducted by the Yarra Ranges Council was the perfect opportunity for a solo exhibition. The Council put out the application process and I thought, that’s a good chance to give me a deadline.”
The ‘I could have been anywhere but I was there’ collection is Jessica’s favourite in the exhibit.
“I collected memories from people that I knew and didn’t know, making maps of the memories and the places they were attached to.”
Describing her favourite part about the collection, Jessica loved getting “insight into the special moments” of people’s lives.
“People trusted me to create artworks from the memories they shared,” Jessica said.
Another of the exhibition works that lies close to Jessica’s heart is her postcode collection. This work examines how people are or are not judged by where they live.”
“I grew up in an area that I guess people looked down on so it’s great to explore postcode bias,” Jessica said.
“I’ve had that idea float around my head for about five years.”
Jessica began exhibiting during her University degree and recommends up and coming artists to participate in programs such as the Yarra Ranges Council’s Regional Exhibitions Program.
“It’s a really good opportunity for artists in a group or by themselves, generated by the council to put something on,” Jessica said.
Participating in group exhibitions and attaining memberships at art galleries were also elements of advice for aspiring artists according to Jessica.
Jessica began her works with a clean slate, not imposing meaning onto the memories, rather “just drawing lines between the ideas.”
“The next step was drawing another layer of meaning on top of the memory maps I had created.”
The ‘Shaped by Memory’ exhibition is a compilation of some of Jessica’s works over the years and encompasses her love for mapping the connections within human memory.
“I’m inspired by visualising inner worlds,” Jessica said.
For more information on the ‘Shaped by Memory’ exhibition visit; https://www.yarraranges.vic.gov.au/Experience/Events/Shaped-by-Memory
