Martina Beka will present her debut solo exhibition, _what if i forget_, in Adelaide Arcade’s underground tearoom as part of the Adelaide Fringe Festival from 3rd to 23rd March.

A display of material representing forgotten memory and connection to space, the free exhibition is a culmination of installations, sculptures and photographic works.

Martina, currently an artist in residence at Fab Workshop and Studios, delves into the complexities of memory, particularly the fears associated with forgetting shared memories. For this exhibition, her work examines how memories are concealed and/or revealed within materials and spaces that contain traces of human interaction. The exhibition reflects the intersection between forgotten memories and forgotten spaces, shown through site-specific work.

“The work explores themes of memory, forgetting, and the act of preserving or holding onto what could be forgotten,” says Martina. “Nothing is ever truly forgotten – especially through the work featured in this exhibition where there is a dance between new and old memories.”

“When I was first introduced to the basement space, formally used as a tearoom, I felt the energy it held, and the forgotten nature of the space perfectly aligned with what I was trying to articulate through this exhibition, ” says Martina. “It is important that a wider audience also has the opportunity to experience the space in the way that I did and share the excitement I felt when entering a space that had been closed off to the public for the longest time.”

The historic setting of the tearoom is apt for this exhibit, where the works are designed to engage with the environment and enhance its raw, organic qualities. From metal, elements of deconstructed couches and recliner chairs, to photographic work that hold onto and blur memory, Martina has curated a body of work intent on discussing forgotten memories and the fears associated with this in the spaces they inhabit.

Central to her creative process are acts of reversing, skinning, prying open, and releasing tension points — gestures that reveal the tactility and seductive nature of her chosen materials.

The dialogue between environment, material and form comes from Martina’s inspiration of the wear and debris accumulated over time within the materials. The process of setting memories in metal is her interpretation of memory solidifying within an individual.

Adelaide_ _Arcade General Manager, Andrew Jonats, says_ what if i forget _brings nostalgia to what is already a nostalgic venue.

“The tearoom is a brilliant exhibition space for something as intimate as a discussion about memory,” says Andrew. “Martina’s work will resonate with everyone who sees it, as we can all relate to the decisions of what we keep, and what we discard.”

The closing night event on Friday, 21st March will call for a deeply intimate experience where attendees will gather in small groups to engage. In allowing audiences to foster connection with the work and space, one’s mind can be challenged about what is left behind and the delicate balance between holding on and letting go. _what if i forget_will run from Monday, 3rd to Sunday, 23rd March at the Adelaide Arcade underground tearoom as a free exhibition during the Adelaide Fringe
Festival.