When I was little I loved the bright colours and patterns and really wanted it to be mine, but it was a grown up ‘thing’, not a toy. I saw it as something an adult would have; something that didn’t have a function but that could be owned as part of a home.
Years later, after my mum passed away and we were packing up her things, I asked to keep it as something that symbolised me being an adult and building my own home – but also as keeping a part of my childhood. A physical memory, really.

I have a home now, and a life I’ve created, but I still don’t feel particularly grown up! I’ve always hoarded things and wanted to hold onto them for the memories they seem to contain. Learning about this project made me realise that releasing the object doesn’t mean losing these memories. Lou