Artwork by Rachel Barbaresi
Notes on a Transient Archive: Rachel Barbaresi
Fusion Arts is proud to present Notes on a Transient Archive, a series of thought-provoking works by artist Rachel Barbaresi, exploring overlooked histories and the fragile nature of archival preservation.
Through her deeply personal and collaborative approach, Barbaresi sheds light on spaces and stories often excluded from institutional archives and civic records. Her work is centered on the ‘hyper-local,’ engaging closely with the Oxford community to foster long-term collaborations and highlight the importance of storytelling in preserving histories.
A Cape for Dolcie Obhiozele and the Oxfordshire African Caribbean Community Archive
Barbaresi’s recent collaboration with Oxford Brookes University and the Oxfordshire Community Education Group (OCEG) focuses on expanding the Oxfordshire African Caribbean Community Archive. This vital project records oral histories and photographs from the local community, creating a rich legacy for future generations.
Barbaresi’s Wearable Archive series features ‘A Cape for Dolcie Obhiozele,’ a symbol of the collaborative and social nature of archiving. Elders contributed to the cape’s creation, stitching care and community directly into the work. The cape will be revealed at the closing event of the Windrush Years Exhibition on 30th November at Fusion Arts.
‘No Records, No Map’ and the Legacies of Exclusion
Accompanying this is ‘No Records, No Map,’ a performative piece using fragments of maps and Oxford tourist ephemera to examine themes of exclusion, belonging, and the legacies of empire. This piece forms part of the Finding Our Way project, a TORCH-funded collaboration with academics from Oxford University and Oxford Brookes, exploring entangled histories and the ongoing impacts of colonialism.
An Inventory of Loss (Ongoing)
Barbaresi’s mixed-media work, ‘An Inventory of Loss,’ reflects on the challenges of preserving stories that lack institutional support. Using materials like stitched scrim, layered paper, and found objects, the piece meditates on time, memory, and the acts of care required to sustain community archives.
Exhibition Details
Imagery from Barbaresi’s wearable archive series and her creative process is currently displayed in the Hythe Bridge Street windows, viewable 24/7 (end date TBC).
The Windrush Years Exhibition, where A Cape for Dolcie Obhiozele will be presented, is open Thurs–Sat, 1–6 PM, at Fusion Arts, 15 Park End Street, Oxford, until 30th November.
About the Artist
Rachel Barbaresi studied at the Slade School of Fine Art, UCL, and Chelsea School of Arts, UAL. She is a Senior Lecturer on the Art & Design Foundation course at Oxford Brookes University and is pursuing a PhD. Her work has been exhibited at Modern Art Oxford, Cornerstone Arts, OVADA, and more. She is part of the collaborative duo barbaresi & round and recently collaborated with Euton Daley on the Finding Our Way project.
