FONDS: A closer look at how objects connect one of Glasgow’s most diverse communities
Eilidh Miller
(Image Credit: Morwenna)
What’s in an object? An everyday item or a glimpse into the story of someone’s life? I’m sure we all have trinkets and knickknacks in our possession that we’ve collected along the way, we use them to proudly display or to quietly reminisce. While the object itself may be ordinary, its ability to elicit feelings and memories in its owner is something truly magical which connects us all.
FONDS, an exhibition created by Glasgow-based photographer, Morwenna Kearsley, in collaboration with Greater Govanhill, explores the power and beauty that everyday items hold. It was created in 2022 but was recently displayed at Glasgow’s Tramway. The exhibition features images of personal objects belonging to people from Govanhill set to a bright backdrop, along with the colourful stories of the meaning behind each object.
Speaking to Blether, Morwenna said: “FONDS is a celebration of what makes us human, which is that we collect things that link us to people and places that we love, that’s what FONDS is about really”.
So, let’s take a closer look at some of the captivating stories this project uncovered along with the techniques that brought them to life.
(Image Credit: Morwenna)
A bridge of connection
Govanhill has faced a lot of scrutiny in the past. The area is known for being multicultural and one of the most diverse neighbourhoods in Glasgow. Racial tensions and prejudices along with poverty and deprivation in the area often take centre stage when Govanhill is mentioned.
However, FONDS couldn’t paint a more different picture. The exhibition presents a vibrant community brimming with diverse cultures and shared stories, offering a refreshing perspective on the real people living in the community.
One of Morwenna’s aims with the exhibition was to showcase the positive aspects of living in such a multicultural society and to “create space for people’s stories and for people to tell their story in their own way”.
Meaningful collaboration is at the core of the project. It connects people to their everyday objects and in a larger sense, connects the lives of people living in the community to one another. The exhibition showcases how a simple object, and the story attached to it, can bridge connections across cultures and between people.
“That’s one of the beautiful things about any big city but particularly Govanhill is that you have this mixing of different cultures and people from all over the world living in this one relatively small place”.
(Image Credit: Morwenna)
Revealing the hidden narratives
When looking through the images of the exhibition, we see seemingly random, ordinary objects. A feather, a sock, a hat. But what really connects each object, and each participant of FONDS, is that the objects allow the participants to talk about a person.
“It’s always connected to love and people that we love so in every case, we may be talking about a teddy bear or a necklace but those people are talking about the loved one that gave them it or that that object reminds them of”.
Simply, FONDS highlights how love and human connection can transform ordinary items into vessels of personal history and everyday emotions. For example, a plaster can be a symbol of love between father and daughter:
(Image Credit: Morwenna)
Behind the scenes: Unveiling the method
To capture such bold images, Morwenna used a completely darkened room and moved torch light around to illuminate the objects while keeping the camera shutter open for eight minutes. During this time, Rhiannon Davies, founder of Greater Govanhill Magazine, conducted the interviews in the same room.
“This quite reverential, intimate dark space affected people and they ended up giving very personal interviews and it gave a new perspective through which to look at their object”.
The unique setting of the interviews allowed participants to freely share their personal narratives and offer viewers a glimpse into their lives, experiences, and identities through the lens of their cherished possessions. According to Morwenna, there wasn’t a single story that wasn’t “incredibly moving” to listen to.
(Image Credit: Morwenna)
FONDS has been shown in exhibition three times now and the full collection includes 45 images. You can view the full collection of images on Morwenna’s website and the accompanying stories and podcast episodes can be found on the Greater Govanhill website.