Lost PropertiesA multi-media, Sound, Image & Text public artwork, © MMcClean 1997

Commissioned by: London Siteworks Sponsored by: The Paul Hamyln Foundation, The Arts Council of England, London Arts Board and Southwark Council.First Exhibited: October-Dec 1997, London.Reviewed: South London Press, Capital Radio, Southwark News, In-Sight, Nov 1997, Sound Sense and Sensibilities,Circa- reviewed by Shirley MacWilliam, 1998

'Ancestral lines cannot be broken. Without them there is no childhood. Without them there can be no right dreams. The river flows, it is continually changing, continually moving, yet it is always a river. Now, before and after.'

Bill Viola Notes from - Reasons for Knocking at an Empty House -1994

Public Art Project commissioned by London Siteworks

below, Ancient Mummified Leg sawn off an Egyptian Mummy (purchased 1800’s)

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Lost Properties!

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Artifacts

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Cocktail UmbrellaCirca 1940

Said to have been taken from the cocktail glass of Charlie Chaplin on the day of his return to his birth place on the Walworth Road, London, England

(purchased,1940)

“There are some things that find themselves in the special position of being displayed on plinths, in cabinets or on the walls in places designed for the education of people in matters of culture…

Glass Bell Jar enclosing polystyrene Palm Tees and StorksCirca 1996

(Manufactured in Korea 1995, purchased London, 1997)

They possess it seems the magical gift - they can tell us who we are. Some things, content as they muddle along in the anonymity of everything, find themselves suddenly seized. Bestowed upon them is now a mighty role: as ambassadors for history, appointed to reveal the plot of humanity hitherto concealed.

The Lost Subway at Newington ButtsCirca 1997

The sound of a tropical landscape with waterfall and an Elephant Trumpeting could be heard coming from behind the door in this dilapidated underground passage. The subway leads to the Elephant and Castle Shopping Centre.

Mairéad McClean found an eccentric collection of 'natural and artificial curios' and revealed some scandalous things uncovered by archaeology.

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A pair of childrenʼs ʻJelliesʼ1995

These mute fragments of other lives, unable to vouch for their own authenticity, are submitted to the worst accusation of all:" Fakes!"

Isobel Bowditch(Siteworks Catalogue, 1997)

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