Tears for Souvenirs

Tears for Souvenirs

Tears for Souvenirs

By: Eamon Gray, 2006
Medium: cast bronze
Size: 77mm
Cast by: Crawford College of Art and Design
Issue: The Medal, no. 49 (Autumn 2006)
Edition: 33

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Eamon Gray received his formal artistic education at Crawford College of Art and Design, Cork, Ireland, from 1997 to 2002, receiving a BA degree in fine art and sculpture. While at college he entered medals into the BAMS Student Medal Project, winning a prize in 2001 with Dual Aspects and again in 2002 with Tsuba; the latter was subsequently acquired by the British Museum. He spent the year 2002-03 creating work and researching casting techniques in the college foundry. He has exhibited in numerous group shows in Cork city and throughout Ireland. He has also exhibited various medals through BAMS and FIDEM. His work is held in public and private collections in Ireland, England and other European countries. The artist writes about his BAMS medal, Tears for Souvenirs: ‘The concept for this medal is based on an old French game, a philosophy toy. The game dates from the late eighteenth to early nineteenth centuries. Originally made for adults, it eventually became a child’s favourite. The toy is basic, merely a round piece of card threaded through either edge with a piece of string. One side (the obverse) of the card depicts a small bird, the other (the reverse) a bird cage. The objective is to spin the card, using the string, to the desired speed, to create the illusion that the bird is trapped in the cage. ‘When the idea for the medal was conceived, I had been creating work dealing with, for me, the issue of lost youth. The medal seemed an ideal vehicle to convey such thoughts. In Tears for Souvenirs the bird, as a symbol of youth, has escaped, leaving only a feather in its place, a fleeting memory. Unlike the original toy, no matter how fast we turn the medal we cannot cage or trap time and youth. The cage door hangs open; youth has fled, as it will eventually escape us all. All that remain for us are the memories, the souvenirs of what was, what is lost to us.’