House of Dirt by Jess Buckley

Exploring the limits of collective memory and the pastoral, my work is concentrated on the way in which a landscape can shape and possess an individual. Growing up on a family farm of five generations, I continue to be inspired by those who endure the hardships of rural life yet still have this immeasurable pride for the lifestyle. By looking at the past, I aim to put into perspective the current situation of those who live in these forgotten communities and struggle to preserve their way of life. By focusing on collaboration in my work through the combination of mediums, and merging of stories and materials from past and present, I am able to construct an environment that belongs to everyone and no one. Memory is, by nature, plural and yet individual. It remains in permanent evolution, open to manipulation, appropriation, and deformation. My work challenges modern ideas of rural lifestyles while simultaneously questioning and problematizing ideas of history and memory.