Orphan Objects

Ecdysis
05/2010
Shot on a Hasselblad 500C/M [Kodak Portra 400]
‘As one develops through life, ‘things’ shape us and encourage our growth. Ecdysis suggests how, like snakes, our clothes act like skins as we evolve into adulthood.’

---

“I grew up in Saudi Arabia, a country where, until very recently, public photography was illegal. Such restrictions and experiences of an expatriate life in the Middle East attributed to my curiosity in visual representation.”

“At University I studied BA (Hons) Arts & Media at the University for the Creative Arts, Farnham and embraced a multi-disciplinary approach to my creative practice. However it was the power of photography to capture and elevate the everyday that gripped me. ”

Jean
12/2010
Shot on Hasselblad 500C/M [Kodak Portra 400]
‘Jean’s relationship with objects is essential to her day-to-day life. Objects provide more than just their practical function; they are an extension of her being.’

---

“Working in Charity Shops has greatly influenced the nature of my work, which particularly explores the significance of objects and our relationship with them. This runs parallel with a personal awakening to the philosophy of the utilisation and life of ‘things’ in tandem with considering the complex global issues of recycling and waste.”

“The study of Anthropology, Psychoanalysis, and Art Theory have shaped my understanding of this complicated topic. I would like my work to inspire the viewer to reflect upon the significance of their personal objects, and the life of ‘things’ in relation to their own lives.”

Orphan Objects
04/2011
Shot of Mamiya RZ67 [Kodak Portra 400]
‘Orphan Objects explores the consequence of objects once separated from their original purpose and context. The transient nature and cluttered space of a Charity Shop back room suggest a space occupied by simultaneous rejection and desire.’

---

“I’ve been working in a Charity Shop since graduating last year and will be leaving full-time employment in September to focus on my photography. I’ve gained a new perspective on the utilisation of ‘things’ and would like to direct this into a new body of work.”

“An on-going project since 2009 had been the archival of photography and 8mm cine footage belonging to my Granpda. Using this material as a starting point, I would like to address the identity of the Lincolnshire Coast, particularly Mablethorpe, Sutton-on-Sea, and Sandilands; examining their relationship with the past and evolution into the present.”

If you would like to explore more of Rachael’s work, please see her online portfolio.