Unreliable Memories
Artereal Gallery, Sydney. October 2021.
Unreliable Memories is a reflection on my home in Jakarta – the first home I remember living in. Each painting and sculpture relates to a specific memory within this intimate domestic space. Clean tiles underfoot; the vine covered walls of our back courtyard; my mother’s painting table; and a fish bowl with two turtles and far too many fish. All things I think I remember, but I can’t be so sure, they blur. They are unreliable.
These moments and observations have been distilled in paint through colour and abstract response. As memories of a place often shift over time, with details fading and colours changing, I welcome the distortion that occurs in the process of remembering, and further, in the process of making.
Install photos by Jessica Maurer, courtesy of Artereal Gallery.
![](https://format.creatorcdn.com/d07f2d95-cfc2-424d-9b6a-84a875108e5e/0/0/0/0,0,3643,2429,900,2429/0-0-0/ea3205e9-f475-430a-8e96-c14c80ddbab6/1/1/_48A3348.jpg?fjkss=exp=2037600063~hmac=cc16361dde103a482cdbafa3d6cf2c39d8a5cf0bb91803b00058b13d9d219130)
![](https://format.creatorcdn.com/d07f2d95-cfc2-424d-9b6a-84a875108e5e/0/0/0/0,0,2572,3440,900,3440/0-0-0/680ff047-682a-459b-a4bd-90dd979e89bf/1/1/Gillman_Bridie_Two_turtles_and_far_too_many_fish_2021_oil_on_linen_183x137cm_web.jpg?fjkss=exp=2037600063~hmac=a017458af0ca3b6b92108f305df27915381be9e38b74fb0cd86fe3e5770c6524)
Two turtles and far too many fish 2021 oil on linen, 183 x 137cm.
![](https://format.creatorcdn.com/d07f2d95-cfc2-424d-9b6a-84a875108e5e/0/0/0/0,0,2660,3326,900,3326/0-0-0/76fed7d2-2e4e-4239-96e3-bc03c186b7d7/1/1/Gillman_Bridie_They_arrived_one_night_This_shape_is_a_little_more_accurate_2021_glazed_ceramic_35x24x24cm_3.jpg?fjkss=exp=2037600063~hmac=5d712b10430769ed1b44afc5608c599118fb4e34d90fd6776a58d30fd3af9f58)
They arrived one night (This shape is a little more accurate) 2021 glazed ceramic, 35 x 24 x 24cm.
![](https://format.creatorcdn.com/d07f2d95-cfc2-424d-9b6a-84a875108e5e/0/0/0/0,0,3643,2429,900,2429/0-0-0/e5ac6001-0e6b-44e2-a7f0-a8da8d1195a2/1/1/_48A3322.jpg?fjkss=exp=2037600063~hmac=cc16361dde103a482cdbafa3d6cf2c39d8a5cf0bb91803b00058b13d9d219130)
![](https://format.creatorcdn.com/d07f2d95-cfc2-424d-9b6a-84a875108e5e/0/0/0/0,0,2646,3343,900,3343/0-0-0/fe54349d-df39-40b2-8cf8-2ebe0ff4a311/1/1/Gillman_Bridie_I_watched_them_unload_the_truck_even_though_it_was_past_my_bedtime_2021_oil_on_linen_77x62cm_web.jpg?fjkss=exp=2037600063~hmac=de8575643ff1ea016a74e6983512c614b4576aca35e0ea509e850d1b1d980299)
I watched them unload the truck, even though it was past my bedtime. 2021 oil on linen, 77 x 62cm.
![](https://format.creatorcdn.com/d07f2d95-cfc2-424d-9b6a-84a875108e5e/0/0/0/0,0,2655,3332,900,3332/0-0-0/0f589968-a2cf-4a29-8b84-a5a93d6c3934/1/1/Gillman_Bridie_I_would_secretly_play_with_them_Until_I_dropped_one_and_it_cracked_2021_oil_one_linen_77x62cm_web.jpg?fjkss=exp=2037600063~hmac=b850c847f16aaed51aaadea572e3fd68ac1cb06068c84df3061c398a8c8b41f3)
I would secretly play with them. Until I dropped one and it cracked. 2021 oil on linen, 77 x 62cm.
![](https://format.creatorcdn.com/d07f2d95-cfc2-424d-9b6a-84a875108e5e/0/0/0/0,0,3643,2429,900,2429/0-0-0/6e32d40c-8502-4032-8780-d5b7930a84a5/1/1/_48A3324.jpg?fjkss=exp=2037600063~hmac=cc16361dde103a482cdbafa3d6cf2c39d8a5cf0bb91803b00058b13d9d219130)
![](https://format.creatorcdn.com/d07f2d95-cfc2-424d-9b6a-84a875108e5e/0/0/0/0,0,2660,3326,900,3326/0-0-0/ac6c8a44-2ed7-4e2d-baf2-316526d91546/1/1/Gillman_Bridie_They_arrived_one_night_I_got_the_shape_completely_wrong_2021_glazed_ceramic_40x27x27cm_Detail_2.jpg?fjkss=exp=2037600063~hmac=5d712b10430769ed1b44afc5608c599118fb4e34d90fd6776a58d30fd3af9f58)
They arrived one night (I got the shape completely wrong) 2021 glazed ceramic, 40 x 27 x 27cm.
![](https://format.creatorcdn.com/d07f2d95-cfc2-424d-9b6a-84a875108e5e/0/0/0/0,0,2573,3439,900,3439/0-0-0/ccc63199-64d1-47de-adb0-f95ea8e33675/1/1/Gillman_Bridie_Clean_tiles_and_heavy_furniture_2021_oil_on_linen_183x137cm_web.jpg?fjkss=exp=2037600063~hmac=ab297d4d879f91b8f7e2a8bcdd6f12d15ed76438a9e3fcaea3e9daff60f81c1a)
Clean tiles and heavy furniture. 2021 oil on linen, 183 x 137cm.
![](https://format.creatorcdn.com/d07f2d95-cfc2-424d-9b6a-84a875108e5e/0/0/0/0,0,2658,3329,900,3329/0-0-0/49e9c27e-77e3-4597-b59f-13cdc9053742/1/1/Gillman_Bridie_It_covered_Mum_s_painting_table_2021_oil_and_enamel_on_linen_77x62cm_web.jpg?fjkss=exp=2037600063~hmac=531fa8b79dc180fb521f312de32438919ac2c62b80ff2e6205909541f43ba5ff)
It covered Mum's painting table 2021 oil and enamel on linen, 77 x 62cm.
![](https://format.creatorcdn.com/d07f2d95-cfc2-424d-9b6a-84a875108e5e/0/0/0/0,0,2653,3335,900,3335/0-0-0/46ba6aa9-8a0c-4203-8c18-4d8ed2e2e1f5/1/1/Gillman_Bridie_One_morning_there_were_no_more_fish_left_Only_two_turtles_2021_oil_on_linen_77x62cm_web.jpg?fjkss=exp=2037600063~hmac=54107b9ef8015af1e7d5e3c78dfa9d063ad4718a2eefda560280a98955b51d5d)
One morning, there were no more fish left. Only two turtles. 2021 oil on linen, 77 x 62cm.
![](https://format.creatorcdn.com/d07f2d95-cfc2-424d-9b6a-84a875108e5e/0/0/0/0,0,3643,2429,900,2429/0-0-0/65ae3b8b-9b40-4993-983f-ab4f0c476b66/1/1/_48A3328.jpg?fjkss=exp=2037600063~hmac=cc16361dde103a482cdbafa3d6cf2c39d8a5cf0bb91803b00058b13d9d219130)