Susie Thomas’ work ‘Found Objects’ 2010 is located in the foyer and Gallery One at St Paul St Gallery, and is Thomas’ contribution to the show ‘ Indefinite Leave to Remain’ a show in conjunction with Patrick Lundberg and Richard Frater. The show’s title implies a simultaneous feeling of absence and presence underpinning each works relation to the space. Thomas’ work in this vein evokes the feeling of those who both daily inhabit the gallery as well as visitors whom spend time with in the space.
Thomas’ work centers on an inversion to the traditional ‘found object’ whereby she has extracted DNA originating from two strands of hair found within the space. Or to be exact she has ‘isolated and purified’ short extracts from two different persons DNA sequences, the most significant aspect being that she has gained copyright to each.
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The precise origin/location of the hairs is marked by two rectangular taped areas in the gallery and foyer, intended to assist visitors and staff to retrace their steps around the time Thomas’ acquired the hair.
On the wall we are given full details of the license agreement she has attained in legal written form, accompanied by graphics to illustrate the genetic sequence itself. To surmise it outlines the ‘user license agreement’ and terms by which the carrier/license can ‘use’ or has autonomy over the replication of the section of DNA. Most appropriately Thomas’ work brings to light not only the social narratives within which these as objects lie, but also the discourse of ownership itself within our collective identity.
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