I’ve been to Atelier several times before—often as a treat to myself to get my hair coloured. It’s a space where I revel in an uninterrupted time to read a book and drink an alarming amount of hot chocolate while getting my hair done. I was looking forward to exploring The International Colour Chart (ICC) a numerical system used worldwide to classify hair colour. 

 

In the new context of a ‘site visit’ for this residency, it was as if I had never been before, my mind began to whir and personal memories started to pop up. 

Two in particular:

My cousin revealing to me that an item found in my grandparents’ house was a Victorian Hairwork piece made from human hair. I found it macabre but not grotesque, as this beautiful piece behind glass was clearly made by a true artist. I probably wouldn’t have known it was even made of hair had I not been asked to look closely. 

The other from when I was small, asking my mom to teach me how to do a French braid. Unexpectedly she proceeded to suggest we go to the library to get a How-To Tutorial. I did indeed learn how to French braid with that VHS tutorial, and have had the skill ever since. It’s unknown whether my mom was hoping to create a learning moment of the value of sourcing information at the library- or she didn’t know how to and didn’t want to let on. 

Sentimentality, emotion, and personalisation are intertwined with hair, so just as integral to the residency as the technical skill involved. So I begin with ruminations of memory, ornament and technical skill.