Minus One

My current work is unashamedly about my own grief and because of that, it has been said that it is self-indulgent. At the time I began work on the project, my grief was still very raw and I was compelled to make something about my experience -it felt as though there was no choice.

The work has not been easy. It has been slow and at times very painful and there is still a huge amount to do before deadlines in May. I can say though, without doubt, if I could go back and choose again, I would choose the same thing.

Has it been cathartic? At times, yes it has, and as the work draws to a close, at least in terms of my university deadlines, I hope that there will be a sense of closure.

Yes the work is self-indulgent, but I make no apologies for that. One of the benefits of working on Minus One has been learning a little of theories about grief and becoming aware of the huge array of responses that loss can provoke in bereaved people and those around them. It has helped me understand that the work can be of value to others to create a space for contemplation of the loss of loved ones.

The University Campus Barnsley degree show will be available to visit in June 2015. More details will follow. In the meantime, here’s a sneak preview of some of my preparatory work.