Samples from an Imaginative Childhood is at its core a newly developed body of work that is both concerned with the bureaucracies of early
parenthood, most notably in the field of “green” parenting as parenting style. Moreover, the complex conundrum that is conceptual nostalgia. In this newly presented body of work, the ideologies of sustainable approaches to a fine art practice are met with the many marvellous and adventurous ideologies of raising a child in a post- pandemic era - an event that marked a colossal shift in ecological hibernating healing due to human absence.
The exhibition is composed of 6 parenting works, partnered with different iterations that act as placeholder for the almost “scientifically” studious
behaviour a parent engages in as an observant and guardian during the first few years of their child’s life. Furthermore, the work serves as a conduit with the means to untangle the various aspects of conceptual nostalgia such as altered memory, self-reflection, and the act of projecting one’s sophisticated personality (the best of it) onto your child because of role modelling. Post-pandemic parents amongst every other parental figure will tell you that parenting is the hardest task at any given time, the vast vortex of anxieties, sleepless periods, multiple leaps, can seem beyond intimidating at first. But, under the right circumstances, they serve as some of the universe’s most truly fascinating wonders, where we get to relive the utter most magical and beautiful things that make life special – through our children’s unclouded, imaginative and pure discovery of the
world.
I’d like to acknowledge the traditional custodians of the lands in which this body of work was made and currently resides on. As a Guatemalan-Australian creative individual, I’d like to express my deepest gratitude and respects to the Boon Wurrung and Woi Wurrung people from the Kulin Nations, and the Brayakaulung people from the GunaiKurnai Nations for allowing me to work and reside on their ethereal lands, and as a temporary guest I attentively pay my respects to their elders’ past, present & future. I recognize them as first artists, designers and creatives of this beautiful country. I further extend my acknowledgement and respects to any other First Nation and Torres Strait representatives. In these ethereal lands we all call Australia and we call home, there is without any doubt that these were, are and always will be Aboriginal lands.
