Archie & His Suitcase

Based on personal recollections and actual events, I have combined my skills as an investigative journalist with my visual arts practice to bring you my very first art exhibition in the UK.  Archie and His Suitcase explores life, love, loss and mystery. 

I was always told that my grandfather, Archie, died before I was born. These words almost had the power to close the door of his life forever, never to open again until I started a journey of understanding my dad and his unknown ancestral line. 

The secrets beckoned as I investigated how and why Archie was in Australia. But I first had to uncover his start as a child in Cornwall. Why was he in Bath, Somerset, at nine years old?    

His suitcase was the only constant in his life and the only possession he ever kept. What information did it hold? The case had to be solved. Did he ever get the chance to return to Cornwall?

Three years of research have culminated findings through portraits of Archie, portraits of contributors, a timeline of his life, a short story, a photo book, unearthed documents and photos and many audio recordings from storytellers in Cornwall, Portsmouth, Perth (Australia), and the Wheatbelt region of Western Australia.

Even though he died before I was born, over 50 years ago, I was surprised at how many people are still alive to share their experiences with him. It has helped build this reality of Archie's life. Without these contributors, there would be no story.

The project is still unfolding. I am constantly meeting more people with their stories of Archie, the most recent in the USA and Cornwall. Eventually, I would like to paint all the contributors' portraits, but only four are represented in this exhibition.

Please join me for the opening on Tuesday, 17 December, at 12 pm. I would be honoured to meet you. If you cannot make it now, don't hesitate to contact me through the exhibition, and I will arrange to meet you at a time that suits you best. 

I hope to see you there!

Kindest regards,

Annette Peterson