Discovered a creepy decrepit building underground in the old justice district at RMIT. It was full of old documents, antiques and blacksmithing equipment. Usually that entire area is locked off, obviously nobody had been down there for a long time. I love finding things like this. #rmit #nofilter #butwhenthelightswereoffitwasthefreakiestplaceiveeverbeenin There was a huge armchair in the middle of the empty room pointed directly at the door when you enter. Going underground and pushing open an old door into pitch darkness, only to turn on a torch and see that was creepy af

A photo posted by Jackie Matthews (@jaquesii) on May 17, 2015 at 7:37am PDT

While i was setting up the camera for a shot yesterday, Cassie came in from outside and told me about this creepy dark room out there. She said she pushed the door open a little but it was pitch black so she left it. Curious, i went and had a look myself. Through a door in my courtroom, there was a space with an old holding room, but further outside, down a narrow overgrown stairway there was a set of large brown, rotten, wooden doors. They weren’t close-able, you could just push them open, so i did. It was pitch black, and pretty creepy. Especially knowing there was a huge concrete wall behind you so you can run away. I jokingly said ‘this is how you die in horror films,’ to be honest it was legitimately creepy and i didn’t know what to expect. I turned my phone torch on and pointed it around inside. I saw boxes full of old metallic objects and a really decrepit building. As i moved the light around there was a huge, tall green leather armchair. It was really structured, not plush at all, but it was by itself, pointed directly at the doorway i was standing in. I found that imagery really creepy, it was like someone was expecting me or someone to come through the door I encouraged Cassie to come down and look at it also. A bit freaked out, we went back up the stairs.
Once back in the courtroom, our tutor, Rachel, and Linh came in and we told them about it. Then we all went down together, this time turning the lights on. It was so interesting. 3 rooms Underground, underneath what would be the ‘L shaped courtyard,’ full of old antiques, documents and blacksmithing equipment. We spent a while looking through all the curiosities inside. I looked thought he files, and opened an old box to see that was inside. There was lubricant for guns and metal inside. And a huge anvil sat in the corner. The bricks were destroyed and there were holes in the wall and rust everywhere. The air was so thick with dust it smelled like a ceramics studio, but even stronger. If i knew it was there, i probably would’ve made my whole piece about it. I am always so taken by things like that, they excite me. What i would like to do, is do some of my own work based on it. Perhaps a series of paintings to capture the atmosphere.

It would be cool to go back down there if i get the chance, but i don’t know how often it is accessible. The only reason that area was open is because we got security to open the building for us. It looked like nobody had been down there for a long time, why would they. All the documents were even dated from the 90’s and earlier. I know there used to be blacksmithing courses at RMIT when that was a relevant trade, maybe it was left over from that? Who knows. But it is all so interesting to me.