My journey with photography started because of my obsession with Eggeleston’s after his exhibition at the NGV.
Looking back on his Guide book, fascinated by how he intertwines ambiguity with family narratives.
Much like his work, Hoo-Roo is predominantly social documentary, touching on themes of Dutch heritage, isolation and guilt. Eager to uncover narratives in relation to old slides and pairing them with my own pictures. Whilst asking the question do memories become more estranged over time and how can I preserve them?
My Opa who inspired this work – he built things. Houses for people to live in. However mundane manual labour may seem, his work left a lasting impact on the people of Dandenong.
Becoming attached to the brown and red bricks that occupy the area, as I do to hagelslag, sugar strawberries and soups.
Since his passing a decade ago my family has drifted apart for many reasons, leaving me to investigate objects left of him. I begin to be worried if I will ever understand my family identity before it is too late.
As he would say in his strong accent,
Hoo roo. Hoo roo to legacy, Hoo roo to memories.
instagram: @conloneryood
