Louise Hung

After building comprehensive knowledge through the rich archive records contained in Wimbledon Museum, I had the opportunity to interpret my reflections in the workshop for Ursuline High School taking place at Wimbledon Museum as part of the ‘Restoration of Toynbee Fountain Event’ run by Heritage of London Trust and Merton Council. 

‘We embrace that Wimbledon Museum is over 100 years old, championing the tangible and intangible history and people of Wimbledon village, town and Commons. If the people of Wimbledon had not preserved their heritage a hundred years ago; if no one had written, painted, collected the specimens and recorded what the common looked like, we might not know anything about our homes today. The Conservators would not know how to rehabilitate the commons to the most appropriate nature environments. What would Wimbledon look like with its history erased? Will we even be able to see each other here today?

Let's imagine that when another 100 years have passed, we have all become history. Everything we left behind became an archive that has been collected in the Wimbledon Museum. What messages and stories do we want to convey to those who visit the museum in the future, in the next 100 years?'

I worked with the museum learning officer, Jean Shipton, in facilitating the Pelham School Year 4 children's activities, offering some suggestions on the crafting part of it. 

After the workshop, I designed the outcome into a display as well as a process documentation book. As far as I know, this is the first time for the museum to exhibit children’s crafts made in the workshop in a professional way.

The book has become part of the archive collection of Wimbledon Museum.

The conversation about working with the Memory Box Foundation with Sarah Hawkins, the museum engagement officer, has inspired me to make my Memory Box on the publications of volunteering processes on the Commons and at the museum.

I noticed there are plenty of books about the history of Wimbledon that mention the formation of the museum. Still, none of them has yet properly told the stories of the selfless volunteers. It inspired me to start documenting the stories of us, at a museum that is entirely run by volunteers.

I would like to pass on the stories and spirit of the community to the next generation and a wider audience.

At Home, Our Magical Wimbledon Memory Box wouldn’t work well without being at the museum, engaging families, visitors and volunteers to share what they’ve read with one another and what they’ve resonated to. It aims to help Wimbledon Museum to bridge connections with the Commons in a more contemporary and visual way.

This not only tells how the local museum built the community identity, and how I use my practice as an art facilitator and illustrator to work with people here, but also represents my journey of finding out the meaning of the term ‘at home’ and sense of belonging in the community.

To me, the work demonstrates the trust-building process that leads to further relationships between the community and me. Therefore, this is not the end.

A massive thanks to Wimbledon Museum, Wimbledon & Putney Heath Commons- Sunday Scrub Bashing Group & London Wildlife Trust Farm Bog Team.

Without them, these precious memories wouldn’t have existed.

The story of At Home, Our Magical Wimbledon continues…