Barry and I had visited Ypres, in Belgium (Flanders Fields) in 2008 and I had bought some maps. It was kind of a pilgrimage for me - to visit the Menin Gate where my great-grandfather's name is listed as one among almost 55 000 Allied troops who died there and for whom there is no known grave. I had written the story of his enrolment, embarkation and battles in a short history for the family a few years ago. It was a touching and moving story which resonated down the generations. He never met his only daughter (my grandmother) as she was born 8 months after he embarked and I often reflect on the fact that we are all here (my family) because of the fleeting moments between when he enlisted and married (in May) and when he embarked (in August) in 1915.
The map I used is of Messines Ridge and surrounds, where he was killed in June 1917. The colours became subdued. The marks about understanding my place with regard to him and all he did; and the journey the one from which he did not return.
The second book used the map to fill holes and gaps in another book (... the holes and gaps he left behind); and the blood lines drift through it as do the tufts of red poppies from Flanders Fields.
Whilst they are very personal to me; I hope they also work as art pieces that tell stories about journeys, places, marks and traces.
Here are some close-ups for Velma!
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| ©Fiona Dempster - 2662(a) detail |
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| ©Fiona Dempster - 2662(a) detail |
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| ©Fiona Dempster - 2662(b) detail |
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| ©Fiona Dempster - 2662(b) detail |
i am so glad you took the closeups, fiona. i think of memory. location. mapping. lines. connection. and severance. so softly addressed, yt powerful.
ReplyDeletethese close ups are just beautiful. the cut outs frame them so well. very poignant.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great background story - and yes, however personal the inspiration, the piece does indeed reach and resonate with me, with or without that knowledge!
ReplyDeletelovely pics and tale fiona (I'd love to see the finished piece in the flesh one day)
ReplyDeleteBeautiful books, beautifully photographed, and a very moving background story.
ReplyDeleteNow I know the story behind it is just so much richer. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteWhat a profound story. I love reading about your family and your reflections, it's amazing. Not to mention how lovely and meaningful your books are.
ReplyDeleteThanks Velma - yes memory seems to be part of these books; and I really like the close ups too!
ReplyDeleteAbigail - thank you! The cut outs are wonderful framers; and they allow the for the movement of the threads as well.
Gabriella/TT - thanks; I'm glad they tell of other stories as well.
Hi Ronnie -it's nice when the stories and the pieces come together. There's nothing quite like seeing them/touching them is there?
Carol - thank you. I am happy and proud of them.
Trace - It's another layer, another dimension I agree; it adds to the richness so I thought I would share it.
Jane - thank you; the ponderings and reflections are all a part of the art it seems! Go well.
Thanks for the background story, Fiona - such a wonderful personal expression of abstract thoughts and memories embeddeed in your DNA xoxoxo
ReplyDeleteN- glad you liked the story behind it for me; and its expression.
ReplyDeleteFiona,
ReplyDeleteI love maps for themselves but I love them more when there are such poignant memories and stories attached to them. The book is a stand alone success but reading the background story makes it even more so. Lesley
Lesley - than you so much. Its nice when the story adds to the piece without dominating it.
ReplyDelete