Mary Neville: Paperweight

Paper is fragile, and like life is shaped by time and wear. Despite its fragility, paper has long been the material used to record and communicate things that are important to them and others. People often keep letters dear to them not for their words per se, but to cement the feelings that the writer conveyed; memories and thoughts that we deem important, like evidence of connection, longing, love.

In this series, Paperweight, I focus on using these fragments of the past—handwritten letters, old ledgers, and discarded scraps—that carry histories and personal stories. Through layering and texture, I explore how these materials embody memory and invite viewers to consider what we choose to hold onto, and why.