The Exhibition, titled Cover Up, consists of sight responsive installations that focus on the history of the Heathcote as a residential psychiatric hospital.

Artist Olga Cironis said the exhibition investigated the notion of disguise. “What can seem like order can often be a mask for panic and madness,” she said. “I talked to former nurses and people who visited the Heathcote institution to discuss their understanding of madness. The work consists of stitching blankets over discarded domestic objects. These objects, loaded with their own history, come to represent something completely new.”

Each piece is made from a discarded domestic object that is covered or embalmed with pre-loved woollen blankets. The covering of the objects symbolises covering up, something hidden or denied such as madness.

Heathcote Museum and Gallery Curator Soula Veyradier said the exhibition was an emotive exhibition that invited human interaction. “Each room will reflect some of what losing control of one’s mind and environment may mean,” she said. “Olga takes what has no value or meaning and reinvents it with all its history and creates a new possibility.”

The exhibition is part of the new Tilt program that was developed by the City of Melville to support local artists to provide engaging art to residents and visitors in the City. The artists are invited to respond to the Heathcote site by creating artwork through their chosen art medium.

Heathcote Museum and Gallery is located at Swan House, in Duncraig Road, Applecross. Open hours are 10:00am to 3:00pm, Tuesday to Friday, and 11:00am to 3:00pm on weekends. Phone 9364 5666 for more information.