The Nurse sat with me silently, back view
1. The Nurse sat with me silently, back view The Nurse sat with me silently, back view material, mannequin, horse hair Dress made by Nicole Marrington, based on design by Jo Darbyshire and original nurses uniform from Heathcote Hospital Photo Eva Fernandez
The Nurse sat with me silently front view
2. The Nurse sat with me silently front view The Nurse sat with me silently, front view material, mannequin, horse hair Dress made by Nicole Marrington
Manly strength
3. Manly strength Manly Strength mannequin, horse hair, Dugite snake skin
Manly strength, detail
4. Manly strength, detail Manly Strength, detail mannequin, horse hair, Dugite snake skin
The Nurse who had kittens
5. The Nurse who had kittens The Nurse who had kittens Found metal and glass frame, horse hair, Victorian print collage, Emu feather

Tales of the Surreal- stories from the Oral History Collection, Heathcote Hospital

Tales of the Surreal- stories from the Oral History Collection, Heathcote Hospital

Opening: 29 November 2019 6-8pm
Exhibition: 30 Nov- 19 January 2020

Address: Applecross WA 6153, 58/60 Duncraig Rd, Perth WA 6153
Hours: Tuesday-Friday 10am–3pm, Saturday 12–4pm, Sunday 12–4pm, Monday Closed

Surrealism was a worldwide phenomenon when Heathcote opened in 1929 and I’ve always been interested in the connection between Surrealism and concepts of madness. When asked to make new work about the Heathcote Mental Health Reception Centre I took the opportunity to explore some of the strategies used by the Surrealists: collective ventures, poetry and the use of found objects in artworks.

As I read stories from past staff and patients, and listened to the oral histories that have been collected - I allowed the ones that resonated to come forward. These stories had something of the surreal about them, a startling relationship with a material (feathers, hair, bone), the erotic, or the unconscious. They suddenly made me identify with the patient or the staff member- to be in their body, to inhabit madness, and to work in a place that both contained and maintained madness.

This exhibition is part of the City of Melville Heathcote gallery TILT Programme.

With thanks to Kaylene Poon, the City of Melville History Centre staff and the many participants who contributed to this project.
Mannequins lent by Raffaella Basini and Barbara Richards (Old Values)
Dress designed by Jo Darbyshire and made by Nicole Marrington based on original Heathcote nurses uniform