In Loving Memory: Curated by Charlotte Leseberg Smith

In loving memory of our past selves and those close to us that may have slipped far away, this exhibition will untangle how we store memory -  in objects, in our bodies and in our phones. 

After struggling with temporary memory loss, inspired by a life made up in objects, paying homage to the theory of panmnemism {the ability of inanimate objects to store experiential information}, the exhibition focuses on these tools we use to commemorate the infinite versions of ourselves we have been, the people that have touched our lives. 

After memory was regained through retraining in the form of telling stories through objects, coupled with a hope that ‘it will come back to me’, the concept of memory building seemed so rooted in safe, solid objects. Forget-me-nots in the form of notes on the back of photo frames, a graduation suit, a specific smell, and dog-eared books. 

This is a conversation between three artists, Kasia Wozniak, Damaris Athene and Marie Obegi on this tricky, slippy, solid, ‘thing’ soppy with nostalgia or hard with fear and spiked by joy, how we preserve these memories and hold onto them.

Wozniak traps memories compressed onto silver plates finding the figurative in collected forms over the years, Obgei paints a series of suggested IPhone photographs awkward, painful, funny, sweet memories thrust upon her in a notification ping, and Athene gives form to how our memories are held outside our minds and in our bodies.

Like coming across a memory box stored under your bed whilst cleaning your room, or watching reruns of your favourite comfort show, we hope this exhibition will be a pausing space for artists and creatives to gather and reflect, to hopefully provide a fertile, steady ground from which to move softly into the future at their own pace. A defiant act of rest in a world that encourages us to be in a constant state of onwards onwards onwards.

Sit with us a while, surrounded by these works, read the accompanying poetry and fashion-focussed articles, and drink in the three rotating scents, one chosen by each artist that reminds them of their past. 

Accompanied by a zine available to buy from Guts Gallery shop, featuring articles from Sofia Hallstrom and Jean Watt, dancing between fashion and arts’ role in safe-keeping memories.