Diachronic is an exhibition that evolved from a residency Ann Debono undertook towards the end of 2018, at The British School (BSR) in Rome, Italy. In the development of these paintings, the artist has drawn upon images from the Eugenia Strong Postcard Collection in the photographic archives of the BSR alongside photographs from her personal collection.

Throughout the course of her research Debono found she was perpetually confronted by the ambivalent muteness of the artefacts and historical sites she visited and was compelled to harness this experience within her paintings. To this end, many of the motifs in this body of work, the plants, architectural spaces, antiques, and classical sculptures are drawn from degraded photographic reproductions. Subsequently, the paintings in Diachronic, play on a textural sympathy between the graininess of the duplicates and the preserved sterility of the relics and ruins.

The artist thanks the trustees and benefactors of the Cranbourne Bequest for funding and facilitating her residency at The British School at Rome.

This show is dedicated to the memory of Dr Kate Daw, who was a generous and passionate mentor, friend and advocate for this artist as well as so many others.