Marjoline Ryley
In the set of images entitled ‘Villa Mona’ I photographed my mother’s family’s house on the Belgian coast. My grandmother, my mother and myself have all spent parts of our childhood there.
The collections of objects that can be found in the home can be seen as still life set-ups curated by family members. Objects are placed to act as symbolic reminders of important places, people and events in our lives. These combinations of objects sit within their environments next to other things, wallpaper, furniture, ornaments, thus creating their own miniature narratives.
In opposition to the kind of minimal interiors many people aspire to the objects that clutter the ‘Villa Mona’ are showcased and revered, demonstrating through their stillness and seeming immovability the residues of past lives.
For more information see ‘Villa Mona – A Proper Kind of House’ & ‘The 15th August’ in the Text section.
‘Villa Mona – A Proper Kind of House’ was published in September 2006 by Trace Editions.
Diane Scott-Thomas Photographer 