She Marked Her Name with 'X' - Amy Melchior

“In 2021, my grandmother, Audrey Betterton passed away after celebrating her 99th birthday with our family. Prevented from attending her burial due to COVID restrictions, I was inspired to create a body of work in her honour.

She Marked Her Name with 'X' explores themes of memory, identity and heritage through the lens of the women in my family. Incorporating items such as letters, drawings, photographs, lace, tea leaves, sand and rust, these multi-layered encaustic works are rich in texture and meaning. Each layer tells a story, whether it be the delicate lace etched or embedded in the wax that speaks to the fragility of memory, or the rusted metal that represents the passage of time and the decay of physical objects.

What makes this body of work particularly special to me is that many of the materials used were inherited from my grandmother and our ancestors. By incorporating these tangible possessions and heirlooms into the wax I am creating a physical connection to my family's history and legacy - from Eliza who left Ireland in the 1840s, travelling to remote corners of the world with her children - to Hannah who gave birth to my great-grandmother Janetta onboard a boat from England as they travelled around the Cape Of Good Hope - to Elsie who had the forethought, at the age of 16, to keep a diary of her journey to New Zealand - and of course to Audrey (my Granny) who taught me so much and brought great joy to many.

In using these fragments of history, I aim to highlight the often overlooked contributions of women throughout history and the ways in which their experiences continue to shape our present. A nod to Hannah, who could not read or write, the exhibition title serves as a reminder of the strength and resilience of the women who came before us, and the impact they have on our lives. I invite you to join me on this journey of exploration and remembrance as we delve into the rich tapestry of memory, ancestry, and the human experience.”

A Bit about Encaustic Painting: The word "encaustic" comes from the Greek word "enkaustikos," which means "to burn in." The technique was first used in ancient Greece and Egypt, where it was used to create funerary portraits. Encaustic painting was also popular in the Roman Empire, where it was used to create mosaics and murals. The oldest surviving encaustic panel paintings are the Romano-Egyptian Fayum Mummy Portraits from Egypt around 100–300 AD.

Encaustic painting is a technique that involves heating a mixture of beeswax and damar resin, which acts as a hardener, to create a paint medium. The wax medium is heated until it becomes liquid. Powdered pure pigments are then added to the wax medium to make the desired colours.

The hot liquid wax mixture is applied to a prepared surface, such as a wood panel or paper, using a brush. Each layer of wax is then fused to the layer below using a blow torch or heat gun. The wax can also be layered and fused together with additional layers of wax & other materials such as paper or fabric, sand, etc.

One of the unique properties of encaustic painting is the ability to rework the wax after it has hardened. The wax can be reheated and manipulated, allowing for a range of textures and effects.

Encaustic paintings have a luminous quality due to the translucency of the wax. The wax also provides a unique depth and texture, as well as protection for the underlying surface. Encaustic paintings are durable and long-lasting, as the wax hardens to form a protective layer.