Experimental Methodology
‘A Crate Full of Mangoes’ was the title of Rhett D’Costa’s exhibition at the Castlemaine Art Museum, held from July 30 to November 1, 2026. It is an exhibition that documents D’Costa’s sense of loss in moving from Bombay, India, to settle in Australia. The exhibition contained 11 works, all very different in their aesthetics and concepts. They ranged from a bejewelled gum tree stick to a pile of neatly folded clothes to a complete wall covered with painted text on paper. The works attempt to reclaim what D’Costa perceives he lost when he left India and are an articulation of the possibilities of what that might be, found in comparative lists and words. He is not able to identify exactly what he has lost, and the exhibition holds his memories poignantly. The origin of the exhibition is the trauma of emigrating, leaving what was known and arriving in the unknown. Even the titles of the pieces reinforce this experience. In perceiving this, the exhibition relates to my own concepts of exploring trauma and repair.
The collection touches on identity, culture, ideas of home and belonging. Meaning is developed through an experimental methodology that involves text-based works using stamps and hand-painted lettering, as well as story writing. I was interested in the way the combined group of works contributed to the whole narrative. Repetition appeared in most works, creating a sense of overwhelm, even in the smallest pieces. Yet, repetition also creates a sense of meditation, where it appears the artist is deeply processing, mulling over and searching his memories to find what he feels he has lost.
In viewing this exhibition, I wonder whether my work would benefit from the consistent use of repetition. I am challenged to explore whether that would create a sense of immersion and contemplation, even if the elements or works were small. I am also drawn to how D’Costa has created a narrative with many different elements. This method of presentation is effective in communicating the depth of his ideas, and I feel it is valuable to remember when presenting my own work in the future.
