Joyce Ho 'Shadows developed : memories exposed'

Guest blogger and artist Normana Wight was excited by an artists' book in the collection recently. Here are her thoughts on a book created by a local student, Joyce Ho for a year 12 project in 2005. Joyce not only received an excellent grade  for her work, but also had her book purchased for the Australian Library of Art's artists' book collection.

'Shadows developed : memories exposed'

Amongst the Australian Artists’ Books Collection I made a very interesting discovery; an artist’s book made by a 17 year old Brisbane school student, Joyce Ho.

It is a photograph album (unpaged) all illustrations. 24 X 29 cm.

‘Shadows developed: memories exposed’ is a highly charged memoir of a 17 year old schoolgirl in 2005. This passionate memoir is terse, but very effective.
Presented in a photo album, embellished with dark messages using ‘Dymo’ text, and smeary effects of tone to heighten the emotional climate, but the effect is still kept in control.
For example – a page with 2 photographs – slightly manipulated –

’Falling is Easy, Stopping is Hard.’

And a Polaroid photo with 'Dymo' label – ‘anxiety.’ The effect is strong and direct.

Later, upon 'Googling' her name, I discover that Joyce not only went on to Art School, but is currently working as a visual designer in New York. AND that we, the readers can catch up with her today.

Normana Wight March 2017

Joyce's artist's statement reads; "I am a year 12 student currently studying at Brisbane State High School. There are things in life you won't normally document in an album - things that are usually forgotten. This collection of images draws attention to a series of forgotten memories and represents them in a new light and a new perspective. Each page of the book has two images: one photo is the literal interpretation of the memory and the Polaroid is the feeling or thought that coincide with the memory. The purpose of the album is not to relive the bad memories but to remind myself of all the things that have affected me and thus, have changed me." Joyce Ho, October 2005.