Elise Pithouse
found objects with mixed-media
Title Womb Cocoon
I began a project rooted in my personal history, exploring memories of places, spaces and feelings, many of which had long been held in shadow. Revisiting moments of loneliness, fear, and grief was often painful, yet deeply healing. Even small actions, like mopping the floor in preparation for my installation, evoked rich, sensory memories of childhood family traditions. As I moved through the stages of creation, I felt myself becoming lighter.
The project became a meditative act of resolution, transforming past pain into something observed, honoured, and integrated.
This led me to reflect on how we carry memory and how it can burden or empower us. I began to think of memory as an internal library; a space within us where stories are stored, not to weigh us down, but to be accessed, understood, and embraced as part of our evolving identities. This metaphor became central to my project, especially as I connected it to the womb, a deeply symbolic and emotional site within my own body.
The womb-like space houses this internal library, reclaiming not only the past but the emotional terrain of the body itself.
I didn’t want the journey to end with me, I have begun inviting friends and family to engage with the idea of re-examining and reframing their own memories creating a warm, intimate installation space that invites shared reflection and conversation. The dining table - we gather around to share meals, talk, laugh, play, create, and reflect. Every element of the installation was chosen with care. I used my own and found materials, recycled items, and handmade objects, each one holding its own story. The more used an item, the more life it has lived, and the more potential it holds to connect us.
Looking ahead, I hope to develop this project into a public, interactive installation, one that invites others into the space, not just as observers, but as co-creators of memory, meaning, and transformation. Ultimately, my work is about tracing the threads that link us all and imagining how those threads can be woven into stronger, more compassionate futures.
“ My work explores memory, identity, and community through intuitive, reflective processes. Blending personal narrative with collective experience, I create installations, drawings, and collages that invite emotional connection. Rooted in healing and storytelling, my practice transforms memory into shared space, encouraging others to reframe their pasts and reclaim their voice.”