Echoes of Absence by Rebecca Tapscott

Opening night is at 6pm Friday 6 December 2024 Rebecca Tapscott’s cyanotype print wall installation, Echoes of Absence, is a poignant exploration of loss and interconnectedness, drawing from personal and environmental experiences. Crafted from the remains of animals lost due to human impacts, these prints symbolise the absences in the tapestry of life. Arranged on the wall like specimens at water, earth, and air levels, the installation vividly portrays the profound impact of our actions on interrelated habitats, forming a collective image of ecological fragility. The individual cyanotype prints evoke the natural cosmos with their deep hues and intricate details. Influenced by her cancer journey and a contemplation of mortality, Tapscott’s connection to the Earth deepened, intensifying awareness of environmental losses. This concept permeates the prints, imbuing them with vulnerability and impermanence, serving as a poignant reflection of life’s fragility. Interspersed among the prints are those adorned with intricate lines and vivid colours, encouraging viewers to delve deeper into the narrative. The overlaying of mediums creates a metaphorical echo, linking the tangible and the ethereal, the present and the absent. The installation offers an introspective experience in an extrospective space, representing a collective environmental legacy seven years in the making.