Play Me Mend Me

We were privileged to host an exceptional cross-artform performance by violinist/composer Jane Aubourg on Anita Johnson’s sculpture Play Me Mend Me. This intriguing instrument-sculpture hybrid is crafted from an unfinished violin, a salvaged crutch, a tobacco tin, and a blanket, with strings weaving through its 1.6m length to create three distinct sounding sections.

In this moving performance, Jane explored her personal experience of chronic pain from playing the violin, using the unique sculpture to express the themes of pain, repair, and resilience. Her music provided a poignant commentary on the challenges of continuing to make music while navigating physical limitations.

Jane Aubourg, based in Wollongong, is a composer, violinist, and zine maker. She is a member of the Sydney-based exploratory music collective the music box project and writes a monthly zine, Paper Trails, which documents her creative journey.

The sculpture by Anita Johnson reflects themes of brokenness, repair, and transition. Known for transforming domestic objects imbued with human history into artworks, Anita’s creations speak to our shared experiences of mending and longing.

This performance was an immersive exploration of how art can serve as both a method of creative expression and a tool for personal healing.