Camden Jackson

Navigating the pursuit of happiness, financial freedom, and a place to call home reveals both sacrifice and reward.

Father Guide My Hand is a lens-based, sculptural installation that considers the significance of day-to-day decision-making through its material manifestations. Drawing on experiences tied to my upbringing in Manurewa, my father's death, and my trans-becoming, I utilise found scenes and materials to demonstrate the reciprocal and adaptable nature of the body and its environment.

Like many, the old-school rotary washing line remembers home—sometimes from a distance. In it, I find familiarity, followed by urgency; the washing line's upheaval signals changing bodies, landscapes, and lifestyles. I'm watching the news from my neighbour's TV, and I can't look away.

I believe our time and engagement are our most valuable assets, but I'm not sure they're still our choice.

Through a daily, embodied practice of noticing, my camera facilitates my protest. It seems 'the little things' aren't so little.