Simone Rosenbauer , a Sydney-based photographer, recalls the summers as a kid. “We had an enormous freezer at home that was filled with all kinds of paddle pops.” She recalls the moment the lid was lifted, the bursts of cold air that signaled a tasty treat as well as a brief relief from the scorching summer sun.
Years later, she was inspired to write As Ice in the Sunshine when she lay down by the water on Bondi Beach. The sun was so hot that the lotion on her skin seemed to melt. The time passed slowly and everything appeared to be fantastic. The figures appeared like mirages in the light. Rosenbauer’s mind was filled with “good and bad memories”.
The photographer went back to the mainstay of her childhood: the paddle pop. She bought ice creams and popsicles in bulk from various grocery stores. The large quantities of frozen treats prompted “funny glances” from other customers.
The artist suggests that the pops are an allegory of human life. She watched them soften under the bright sun, ripening in front of her. Nothing lasts forever. Eventually, everything will fade away, leaving behind only the sweet sticky residue.
Rosenbauer admits that she tried to resist the urge, but sometimes it was irresistible. Rosenbauer says that, although she tried not to eat them before taking pictures, sometimes it was impossible. The artist says, “I ate some of them in order to discover their taste.” I was too curious.”