TRACER

Black boards, photographs, matchboxes, mirror, chair, suitcase, postcards, range rack, galvanized steel, wardrobe, enamel-bricks.

Blackboards with neat script speak in a language of soothing statements, ‘rational response to unpleasant emotion.’ This is the language of cognitive behavioural therapy. Underneath this statement stands a chair with a suitcase. A photograph of a 1950’s wedding party reveals a bride looking directly into the camera lens the groom looks downcast smoking on a cigarette. Tracer examines how our lives are mapped out even before we are born, how much control we have and our ability for change. Yellow matchboxes lined neatly like road markings showing the way, old postcards repeating the same image over and over. Are we destined to repeat our parents’ mistakes? How much of our behaviour is learned or inherited? How much choice do we have? Tracer acts as a classroom. An unseen teacher instructs.