Burnham and I

Carl Jung’s collective unconscious is an inherited reservoir of information and experiences shared by all human beings. His archetypes are universal character types found in all cultures over the course of human history. 

Whilst connecting with the history and myths of my new hometown, Burnham on Crouch I discovered a multitude of archetypes specific to this area; Essex Girl, Smuggler, Tradesman, to name a few. Having recently moved to Burnham after living in London for  thirty years I realised I had unconsciously identified with all these disparate characters as they are all representations of the same archetype - The Outsider. 

Stephen Herring in The Sword of Creeksea Place is arguably, the one exception. Being from a generationally established Burnham family he is definitely an ‘insider’. However, could it be that in this one shot I am expressing the others shared personal experience, the outsiders longing for belonging?

My practice is concerned with how environment affects the complex and ever-changing construct of identity. By embodying the roles of these local archetypes  I have won a deeper understanding of what it is to be me.