Segmented Memories
Billy Hosking
Bachelor of Industrial DesignGriffith University
“Home is the landscape and people we surround ourselves with. We are drawn to these as they provide us with our strongest sense of belonging.”
MATERIALS: plaster of paris + natural cotton twine
Artist Statement
Home is the landscape and people we choose to surround ourselves with that fulfill a sense of belonging. It is a feeling rooted in the landscapes, the flora, fauna, the objects and people tied to our strongest memories. A place where memories resurface with warmth and familiarity. For me, home is the Pandanus tree. Its exposed roots remind me of our vulnerability, how we are shaped by our environment. Just as the tree's roots adapt to the shifting sands and coastal winds, we too, are moulded by our past experiences.
The Pandanus fruit, made up of many unique segments, reflects how each moment, memory, and connection combine to create our sense of home. The Pandanus tree is a constant background in these memories. I am unknowingly drawn under their shade surrounding myself with the people who make me feel at Home.
Synopsis
I believe we are like any other living thing. We are shaped, moulded, damaged and forever adapting to our environment. Our past experiences, memories, and relationships shape who we are today and our perception of Home. Each part of our life is unique and meaningful in their own way. A natural and unknowing constant in my memories and a place I am drawn to now is the Pandanus tree. A tree that lines our coastlines, is heavily shaped by its environment and holds everything around it together. I felt drawn to the Pandanus tree to express my perception of Home.
The goal was to incorporate the similarities between the Pandanus fruit (made up of many unique pieces) and the tree itself (how it is shaped by its environment as we are). I gathered multiple sections of the Pandanus fruit that had fallen from the trees along Currumbin Beach and cast them in silicone to produce a mould. Casting Plaster of Paris into the moulds yielded an exact copy of the unique fruit pieces. From there, I assembled them in different ways, letting the process lead the way. A key component I wanted to incorporate was that key memories stand out from others. Some small, some much more significant and impactful.
I wanted to represent this in a way that showed how our journey makes us who we are. Taking inspiration from a DNA spiral (double helix), I used a white plaster to gently contrast the more earthy toned plaster to mimic this spiral. This created a staircase like figure, representing life’s journey. The final form represents how my life and key experiences shape my perception of Home, and that my Home is forever changing. Represented through a subtle environmental constant in the background of so many memories.
