Memory Palace 1 & 2
Location
Site E | Find it on Google Maps
These two works are inspired by the psychological process of Memory Palaces or Method of Loci, a method of recalling physical markers in a space to remember information and create meaning, not dissimilar to the indigenous practice of creating songlines to remember or tell the story of a journey.
As a child, Tai rode many trails on her horse and often created rituals around different markers in the landscape. She also saw faces in the trees, stones, hills and clouds, which she believes is a form of understanding or having empathy for the land or country.
These two works are designed to be interacted with. Rub the nose for good luck, place a gumnut offering on the tongue and make a wish, or toss a stone into the hat if you are on horseback. The hat/bowl is also designed to hold water for local birds, bees and sugar gliders.
The small bronze frog on the large boulder (Memory Palace 1) represents the Plains Brown Tree Frog (litoria paraewingi) found in this area and a reminder to all who visit of the importance of maintaining animal habitat and caring for Country.
This sculpture was made in collaboration with Sculpture Co, Coates Studio Foundry and Kyneton Dry Stone Walling Centre.
About the artist
Tai Snaith
Tai Snaith is an Australian artist and writer with a broad and generous practice ranging from painting and ceramics to curating, conducting conversations and broadcasting.
Tai’s work often marries the act of making with the telling of stories. Connecting and creating meaning through verbal exchange and dialogue. Creating visual symbols from spoken ideas.
In addition to making, a large part of Tai's practice is involved in the discourse and community surrounding art. Tai hosts a regular review of visual art on Triple R FM and is a past board member of C3 Contemporary Art Space.
In the past, Tai has worked as a producer and curator for Next Wave Festival, Melbourne Fringe and Melbourne Emerging Writer's festival and has presented project spaces at Rotterdam Project (OR) Art Fair and Melbourne Art Fair. Her writing has been published in Art and Australia, Architecture Australia, Un Magazine, Houses and Artlink. She has published (written and illustrated) Six picture books with Thames and Hudson.
Tai has exhibited widely in both artist run and commercial spaces since graduating from the Victorian College of the Arts in 2002. She has been awarded the Australia Council for the Arts Tokyo studio residency and numerous state and federal project grants.
Learn more about Tai Snaith:
About the project
Art on the Great Victorian Rail Trail brings walkers and riders on a journey of artistic discovery through beautiful Taungurung Country.
In 2021 Murrindindi, Mitchell and Mansfield Shire Councils were successful in receiving $1.2 million through the Victorian Government’s Regional Tourism Investment Fund to create large-scale art installations along the Great Victorian Rail Trail.
Eight artists were engaged to create seven major art installations and 20 smaller works that have been placed along the length of the trail. You can discover them all here.