Memories tend to fuel my artwork. They inspire me to contemplate on my life and the experiences I have. Sometimes they are good memories and sometimes I reflect on times that I could have changed or done differently - not in a negative way, but just in a way that I can grow and evolve. I find myself imagining various scenarios or travel experiences and wondering how my life would be if they did or didn’t happen, or if I had taken an alternate path. Would I be the same? Or would I be different? I find it romantic how one thing can affect another thing, changing the course of something else. The butterfly affect is such an interesting concept, the idea that small things can have non-linear impacts on a complex system in life. I wouldn’t change anything that has happened in my life because all of those moments have led me to this one. In a way, memories are everything, whether real, imagined or romanticised.

‘Reminiscing At The Louvre’ is inspired by a memory I had over a decade ago when I visited Paris for the first time. Up to that point in my life, I had yearned to go to France and it was honestly a young girl’s dream come true. I was in my first year at Art school and honestly very confused why I was there. It took me nearly two years to figure out my purpose at University and to understand what I wanted to achieve. I struggled allot conceptually even though I did hours of research, always did my assignments weeks in advance and even seeked out lecturers to meet me in their lunch break to go over my essays. I was very eager to do well and to learn but my heart wasn’t in it. At the time I was obsessed with fashion (and I still am), designing and figuring out my sense of self. So naturally, I had an enormous suitcase of clothing and plenty of berets to bring along for my Parisienne experience. The majority of my wardrobe consisted of red, navy and white, a large red leather patent handbag and the most impractical shoes for travelling. My dream was to see castles, eat croissants, go to art galleries, museums, wear my beret and suffer the consequences of being a victim of fashion. I definitely had lots of blisters!

I still remember the first time walking down Avenue des Champs-Elysees, walking through Tuileries Gardens and also queuing up incredibly early for the Louvre. When I visited the Louvre for the first time I spent allot of time looking at one painting that we were studying in first year Art Theory ‘Liberty Leading the People’ by Eugène Delacroix. I felt moved by this painting, by the allegorical goddess-figure, the symbolism and I think it was a catalyst for my interest in Romanticism and the romantic era. I remember sitting on the bench just madly writing and drawing ideas because I felt so inspired. We ended up sitting outside getting lunch and I remember my parents taking a photo of me as I was writing. I still have that photo somewhere in my possession. Those moments really inspired my decision to keep going at Art school, whether I was good at it or not, I wanted to find my purpose.

Now over a decade later, I realise those memories still have a direct impact on my life. This etching is evidence of that - my experiences, romanticism and a yearning to remember the past.