Mandy Williams – Re-Collect

Memory is a theme that typically shapes my work, so when being introduced to Mandy Williams‘ series Re-Collect, I was not surprised that I was instantly attracted to the work. In this series, Williams dives back in time by resurrecting old journals. After re-reading past events she immersed her diaries in water, proceeding to freeze the water and the journals.

Deciding what pages to freeze , Williams explains that she “chose pages for the significance of their dates or for their entries. It was strange re-reading the past. It made me question how thoughts and events that we consider life changing alter over time, become embellished or distorted.” As I think of my own pre-teen and teen diaries jumbled in a box, in a closet in my parents house, I wonder when they will see the light again or if I even feel like re-reading them.

The dates Williams picked to freeze and photograph are personal and it’s not necessary that we know the events that unfolded on that date. What I think is evocative with this series, is that everybody can relate to dates, times of their lives that were or are still significate. We all carry with us jumbled array of events that shape our lives and I think Williams’ way of portraying this idea is canny and effective.