Louise Marson

Flourish: Echoes of History

Flourish: Echoes of History is a personal tribute to the Abbotsford Convent and the resilience of the ‘fallen’ women once confined within its walls. The remnants of the Magdalen Asylum stand as a stark reminder of a history shaped by silence, confinement, and repression.

Women who entered the Asylum were stripped of their names and identities, given saintly names, and subjected to relentless unpaid labour. Labelled as prostitutes, alcoholics, and outcasts, they were cast aside by society yet found a form of survival and community within the convent’s strict structure. The Good Shepherd nuns, while enforcing rigid discipline, also provided a space of belonging. 

Walking through the Convent today, I reflect on these women and the nuns who shaped their lives. In 2018, the Sisters of the Good Shepherd unveiled a memorial with words from former inmates: Shame, courage, fear, dreams, friendship, forgotten, anger. These words resonate deeply with me, mirroring my own struggles with mental illness and the invisibility of disability.

 My artwork responds to this history—confronting the past and calling for visibility. Using discarded oyster shells and hessian bags, I honour the ‘fallen’ women, transforming refuse into objects of reverence. Each shell, salvaged from the Queen Victoria Market, symbolises a forgotten life. Burning the shells evokes the arduous labour that once defined the Convent, weaving a metaphor of survival and resilience.

 As a disabled woman, I see myself in these women—their struggle to be seen, heard, and valued. My work is a plea for recognition, remembrance, and justice. Flourish gives voice to the marginalised, ensuring their stories, like the shells, are no longer discarded but cherished.

Supported by: Maggie Maguire Residency

Exhibition launch event

6th March 6 pm

Opening hours

6/03/25 - 23/03/25 (10 am – 5 pm)

Location

The Store at Abbotsford Convent, 1 St Heliers St, Abbotsford

Exhibition soundscape

Exhibition documentary

Photography: Helga Salwe

In conversation with artist, Louise Marson, and Good Shepherd representative, Sister Barbara

Join Maggie Maguire OAM, Abbotsford Convent’s inaugural CEO; Dr Madonna Grehan OAM, ACF volunteer social history guide; Sister Barbara, Good Shepherd nun of 62 years; and Louise Marson, exhibiting artist, as they discuss the history of Abbotsford Convent and the women who once lived behind the Convent’s bluestone walls.

Date: 15/03/2025 (2pm - 3pm)

Photography: Tim Lukey

Bubbles & Brine: an afternoon of art, oysters, & champagne

Dive into an afternoon of culinary delight amidst the artistic ambiance of Flourish: Echoes of History at The Store in Abbotsford Convent. This will be an exquisite pairing of fresh oysters sourced from Melbourne's renowned Queen Victoria Market, complemented by bubbles. Savour each delicate bite and sip amidst the vibrant creativity of Marson's captivating exhibition over six gallery spaces within ‘The Store’.

Date: 16/03/2025 (2pm - 3pm)