RELICTA, Lydia Hickey & Eileen Mantel

RELICTA brings together the photographic work of Lydia Hickey and Eileen Mantel, exploring themes of absent spaces and moments suspended in time. Across both urban and domestic spaces, the work traces scenes of visible neglect - revealing a sense of abandonment and asking viewers to reflect on forgotten and unknown settings.

Lydia Hickey’s work draws our eye to the city - and documents the instability and degradation of the landscape. Marked by graffiti, and with subtle references to stadiums and sporting culture, the images document environments that are often overlooked. The echoes of crowds and activity rise faintly to the surface; but in this moment, the spaces stand silent. The city is shaped by hostility and uncertainty, revealing in-between spaces that fail to nurture any sense of belonging.

Eileen Mantel’s images are rich in ornamental detail, intricate architecture and traces of life that have been frozen in time. Remnants and relics of past human activity stand scattered throughout once elegant rooms, where the remains of wealth and luxury are unmistakable. In stark contrast to the extravagant backdrop, a sense of neglect and desertion is left quietly hanging in the air with every scene. We find ourselves in unknown rooms, watching as they silently decline.