‘Moments in Time’

Unearthing memories through inherited objects

The inception of this project began with a timely decision to open an archive of my late father's belongings, untouched for years in our cellar. As we carefully unpacked and documented each item through forensic photography, I was struck by the sentimental value and rich history imbued in these objects. This moment ignited a desire to work with and draw inspiration from these precious heirlooms.

As an artist with an interest in cataloguing and archives, I began to record the detail of these objects; the fingerprints, scratches, and traces of handwriting that mark the passage of time and hold personal significance. Through drawing and intaglio printmaking techniques, I aimed to capture and record some of these memories. This body of work evolved into three connected series of prints based on groups of different objects in the collection which were showcased in a previous solo exhibition. 

My years residency at Artlab Contemporary Print Studios, UCLan as part of the Artist Access to Art Colleges programme allowed me to rethink how to use the collection representing the images and concept with a new focus.

Victoria Baths in Manchester offered a unique opportunity to incorporate the historical legacy of the building within a new site-specific installation of prints. Consideration of the space and its connections were primary in the planning of this project, following the lines of the pool, the slope of the pool, decisions on colour and respect to its origin. Central to this personal challenge was the realisation of creating work on such a large scale within specific time constraints. 72 screen-prints became the focus of the installation which stretched out along the floor of the now empty pool area.   

"Moments of Time" is not only a personal exploration of my father's legacy and the history woven into inherited objects, but also a homage to the power of art to unlock fading memories and give them new life. In this project I aimed to pay tribute to moments of the past and invite viewers to reflect on their own connections to the passage of time and the memories it holds.

Paulette Bansal

2023