Vintage Kodak slide carousel boxes, acrylic sheet, vinyl, timber, acrylic paint

106 x 106 x 10 cm

I first saw these vintage Kodak slide carousel boxes at a refuse centre in Murwillumbah several years back but didn’t pick them up at the day I visited. I went back a week later and they were still there so I knew I was meant to have them. I then sat with them for some time before being inspired to create these works.

Initially I thought I would draw upon the grey plastic circular carousel trays inside the box but then I found that it was the boxes themselves that really attracted me. The simple square shape, worn, buff coloured cardboard and spare branding and typography form a strong grid and “canvas” for the bold, contrasting elements placed above.

The coloured timber, acrylic and vinyl circles are fixed but appear alive with life and movement, like a carousel found at a showground fun fair. And they are representative of the celluloid memories of holidays, family gatherings, birthday parties and joyful celebrations contained within the carousel boxes.