31st October, 2010

Champagne-Ardenne, France



What is the most important object you own?

Why is it so important?

Is it a wedding ring, an ornament, a passport, a car, a photograph or a teddy bear?

Is it beautiful, unique, expensive, functional, skilfully made, irreplaceable or evocative? Perhaps it has all these qualities or perhaps, none of them at all.

Does it hold the memory of love, tragedy, friendship, rare generosity or just of a moment when your life was full?

If you have kept it for a long time, why have you done this?

Elizabeth Woods has often asked these questions and addressed them to the residents of Marnay-sur-Seine, a small village in the Aube region, France. However, she was not looking for literal, direct answers to these complex and subtle questions but instead, made a collection of water colour drawings from the ‘most precious objects’ of households. The drawings were then presented in an exhibition at the village church, where for one day, the objects’ images came together in a sacred place, to create a conversation of memories and values, both voiced and unspoken.

After the exhibition, participants were presented with their drawing and a copy of the printed catalogue, which features a short story about the village by the Canadian poet and novelist, Valerie Forgues, and an essay by Kevin Wilson.

The catalogue is available here.

This project has been assisted, financially and otherwise, by the Australian Government through the Australia Council, its arts funding and advisory body, and by the Queensland Government through Arts Queensland.