Helena - Reflections of a City Pond

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@ittybittybarnacle

Project overview

Reflections of a City Pond is an artists’ book with an accompanying series of paper engineered works which reflects the observations and happenings at Baffins Pond, Portsmouth.

An illustrated identification chart titled “Baffins Pond,” showing blue‑toned drawings of local wildlife among reeds and pond plants. It includes labelled depictions of birds such as swans, ducks, gulls, herons, tits, crows, and pigeons, along with a grey squirrel, each with its common and scientific name.

Overlaying and blending past experiences, senses and lost names with the modern reality of the site situated at the heart of Portsea Island, the observer is led between the past and present narratives as if they were taking a walk through the location.

A black‑and‑white drawing of a bird in flight whose body blends into a human face, framed by a circular motif with a small landscape in the corner.
Blue‑lettered artwork showing a poetic message about “No Fishing” signs, with varied typography and a small fish illustration.

Stored within an A3 archival box, curated memories and local stories are overlayed to create fragments of lived experience.  

A curated arrangement of small printed artworks and papers on a white surface, including a framed piece titled “Devil Solution,” a booklet called “Lost Goose,” colourful prints, cards, and textured samples.