Music Box

Large semi-cylindrical wooden music box by Graham Gingles. It opens at the top to reveal compartments containing assorted strange and evocative objects, including a model plane, a model hand, a doll, and assorted memorabilia. Some are glassed over whilst others can be touched. The items assembled by the artist are auto-biographical but are intended to elicit the viewer's own particular memories, as well as exploring ideas of identity in terms of family and place. Opening the box starts a six minute soundtrack composed by Elaine Agnew which weaves together speech (local children and adults talking about childhood memories) and music from the original music box which inspired the piece, inherited by Gingles from his aunt. Purchased by the Art Fund with the assistance of the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation.