Childhood memories made visible

THE experiences of those who lived in the former Ballarat Children’s Home on Victoria Street are being seen and heard through art.

InVISIBLE, a multimedia exhibition at Art Space Ballarat, puts the stories of four former residents in the spotlight, and shares how they felt to be living in the institution without their families.

Themes explored include survival, freedom through escape, resistance and persistence, and liberation.

AshTree Projects director Ember Parkin has helped guide artists in the development of the project, and said there are some sad pieces, but also artworks that reflect the good times.

“We know there are so many stories, and everybody has diverse experiences of these places,” she said.

“The works express their ongoing connection and presence within the city, and a lot of the visitors that have come to the exhibition have had a relationship to the orphanage or children’s home.

“Whether they went to school with kids from that place, or they had people come and stay for holidays, we’re finding it’s inspiring people’s personal memories as well.”

Mediums artists have used include visual and sound art, 3D modelling, projections, and stop-motion animation.

More than 4500 children were sent to the Ballarat Children’s Home to live, before it ceased operation in 1983. It was also known as the orphan asylum or orphanage.

InVISIBLE is open until Sunday 10 December, and has been led by Ashtree Projects, Creative City Ballarat, and Cafs, with Federal Australia Council for the Arts funding.