Barbara Long British, b. 1960
51.5 x 28.5 x 4 cm
Further images
These two works have been created on a worn, hole-ridden dishcloth—an evocative surface symbolizing both domestic labour and the fragility of memory. The artist deliberately overworked the pieces to reflect the relentless, often unseen nature of housework, still largely undertaken by women, and the way memories are continuously revised and layered over time.
In Working Memories, memory is explored as a fabric constantly redarned and reshaped with each recollection. In contrast, Memory Losses contemplates the void left by loss—an unfillable hole that, while permanent, can be reinforced at the edges over time. The work also acknowledges the added grief of losing shared memories, once revisited together.
Executed in a raw, childlike manner, these works embrace a crude aesthetic that enhances their emotional depth. The artist draws inspiration from the cleaning cloths of a British childhood—objects rich in nostalgia—while reflecting on cultural contrasts with Spain, where such cloths differ. Language also plays a key role, as wordplay, double meanings, and cultural references in English offer a depth not easily replicated in Spanish.