TRINITY MORRIS ARTIST
Stories of Strangers Project
Stories of Strangers was a participatory exhibition inviting audiences to respond creatively to a series of original drawings. Rather than explaining the artworks, viewers were asked to interpret them and submit the story they imagined was taking place.
Participants of all ages contributed short fiction, poetry, humour and personal reflections. The project explored how meaning in art is formed through individual experience and how strangers can connect through shared acts of interpretation.
Submissions were published online alongside the artworks, allowing audiences to read and compare different responses to the same image. Over 90 contributions were received, demonstrating a wide range of perspectives and levels of confidence with creative expression.
The project culminated in a public exhibition at Art Space on The Concourse, NSW, in July–August 2020, presenting both the artworks and selected audience responses. Selected documentation below demonstrates the range of audience responses generated through the project.
Stories of Strangers forms part of an ongoing interest in creating artworks that invite participation, curiosity and personal reflection, where the audience contributes to the meaning of the work.
STORY #93 - Tanya, NSW
As she approached the age of the crone she began to doubt her relevance, her worth, her purpose. She withdrew and in those moments of quiet reflection nature wound its way around her. Would it engulf her; new life taking the place of a crumbling relic or would the new life in those leaves, the promise, see her emerge ready to face the future and all its possibilities? As always, the choice, she realised, was hers.
STORY #70 - Anonymous
Looking at you, I see me
and all those things I'd dreamed to be.
The goals, the wins, the shooting stars
the friends, the lovers, trips in cars
In your eyes, I see my life,
the kids, the house, and once a wife.
The highest hopes, the dusty roads,
the ache of love, the heavy loads.
I see in you so much of me,
the joy and pain, the running free.
The rivers, mountains, tides that go,
you'll need to learn their ebb and flow.
When I see you I wonder why,
the time I let it pass me by.
I miss that you who needed me,
but love you unconditionally
STORY #1 - R.Tully, NSW
It hit her at the strangest times, the overwhelming feeling of sadness and grief - often for no particular reason. In the early days, she had fought against it, swallowing the ever-increasing lump in her throat, choking on the tears that stung her tear ducts, threatening to overwhelm. This resulted in strangulated cries, emanating from her, until her body heaving, hiccuping, erupted publicly in an embarrassing loss of control.
She had learned to surrender and the tears flowed, swiftly and silently, falling from her chin. She imagined them pooling and swirling, forming a body of water making it's way to the sea, becoming part of everything. It really made her feel better.