Tamara Hitchens
To Be Seen
Beyond Absence, A Continuing Presence
To Be Seen explores ancestral relationships that transcend time and space, revealing how connections with loved ones continue beyond physical absence. Centred on my late great-nanny, the artwork considers how memory, objects, and place become vessels for connection across generations. Rather than simply revisiting the past, I imagine a relationship that remains active in the present: an exchange of recognition.
I utilise 16mm film to honour my great-nanny, bringing together images that give form to both the physical and the unseen. Through the use of 16mm film, I translate these elements into imagery that encapsulates a sense of feeling and presence. This creates an ongoing dialogue between memory, emotion, and spiritual connection.
The moving images are projected across four hanging layers of sheer fabric, creating an immersive installation that allows the imagery to exist across generations. Accompanied by the sounds of Karangahape Beach and my voice, the installation becomes an all-encompassing experience, connecting viewers to a sense of distance while grounding them in the present. Subtle embroidery of both my birth date and my great-nanny's further acknowledges generational time and unseen familial relationships.
Ultimately, To Be Seen explores the evolving nature of familial narratives and whakapapa, recognising how ancestral relationships continue to shape the present and deepen my understanding of personal identity.
