When a local shop was in the process of building toilets, they found some bones….

Large bones and horse shoes, broken scales and a newspaper from 1988 hidden under some floor boards. These items are now scattered throughout that very site, reflecting the history of the building and conjuring memories embedded within these curious objects.

Built on layers of history, the building and its surrounds have been home to many businesses, experiences and people, including the artists. Much as neighbourhoods develop and change, the video ‘Nature Morte’ becomes a changing still life of the places that Rooke and Dubblu call home. Drawing on aesthetics inspired by 17th Century Vanitas paintings and 80’s holographs, ‘Nature Morte’ uses a combination old school stop motion and contemporary digital animation to explore an anecdotal history of place.

The objects in ‘Nature Morte’ have been found, excavated and inspired by the local area – each referencing a particular story, memory or history. Rooke and Dubblu share with you ‘Nature Morte’, a morphing cabinet of curiosity, an exercise in storytelling through objects that flow in and out of existence.

‘Nature Morte’ is an immersive, site responsive video installation by Shae Rooke and Jess Dubblu with sound design by Garth Sheridan. Developed for West Projections 2019 in response to the site of 295-297 Barkley Street, Footscray, Melbourne, Australia (Bar Josephine + Pie Thief).