Grief
and Human Connection
LILY GARRATT
Table of Contents:
(Above:)
COME HOME 2
2 oil paintings, edited and merged together using Adobe Photoshop.
In my paintings, I have tried to capture an abstract form of the human soul; a spirit flying away or rising in the air. I have found painting therapeutic to my own bereavement of a close family member of mine. I have used oils, acrylics, clay, oil pastels, drawing and film/photography to try to capture the emotions and abstract imagery that my brain associates with grief. I hope to give other bereaved individuals a feeling of comfort and/or solace with my art, as I want to share my form of therapy with others.
I WISH YOU WERE HERE
(Left:)
Angel Come Clean
Oil paint, chalk and oil pastels on paper
(Right:)
SOUL DANCE 1
Oil paint on paper
(Left:)
COME HOME 1
Oil paint on paper
(Right:)
SOUL DANCE 2
Oil paint on paper
(Left:)
SUNSHINE 1
Oil paint, felt-tip pen, chalk and oil pastels on paper
(Right:)
PASSAGEWAY
Oil paint on paper
(Left:)
SOUL DANCE 3
Oil paint on paper
(Right:)
GOODBYE
Oil paint and oil pastels on paper
(Left:)
ANGEL IN THE SUN
Acrylic paint on un-stretched canvas material
(Right:)
SUNSHINE 2
Oil paint, felt-tip pen and oil pastels on paper
(Left:)
LIGHT FIGURES
Oil paint, chalk and oil pastels on paper
(Right:)
TURN
Oil paint and oil pastels on paper
(Left:)
DARKNESS AND LIGHT
Oil pastels on paper
(Right:)
CUT INSIDE
Oil pastels on paper
(Left:)
RIPPLE
Oil pastels and ballpoint pen on paper
(Right:)
LET YOU DOWN
Acrylic paint on paper
(Left:)
FALLING AWAY
Oil pastels on paper
(Right:)
FLYING HIGH
Acrylic paint and felt-tip pen on un-stretched canvas material
(Left:)
THOSE ENDLESS DAYS
Acrylic paint, sellotape, felt-tip pen, plastic film-sheet and embroidery thread on paper
(Right:)
LEAVING
Acrylic paint, oil pastels, plastic film-sheet and Letraset letters on un-stretched canvas material
(Left:)
SHAPES OF FLOATING
Acrylic paint and oil pastels on un-stretched canvas material
(Right:)
DO YOU SEE HIM?
Oil paint and dirt on paper
Woodland Installations:
Recently, I have experimented with displaying my work in nature. Here, I at first found a space in the woods I liked and hung my works up with tape and canvas material as rope.
I love the immersive sounds of nature from these video clips – the birdsong, a distant rush of cars, the snapping of twigs underneath my feet as I held the camera.
(Left:) Here is the same installation on the same day, but a slightly longer clip of everything. After doing this experiment, I was keen to try different lighting and times of the day.
To get a fully immersive ‘woods’ experience, please press play on multiple videos at once, with the sound on. Note: this will only work if you are on a computer, not a mobile.
Here are some clips from my most recent experiment with installing my pieces in the woods. I chose to shoot just before the sky was dark, and with the flash on a torch shining on the images as I walked through the space. Again, I love the sounds that go along with these videos.
I will continue exploring installing my works in the woods; I will next try different hanging materials which might take shape to the winds a bit better. I will also find a better way to record these in higher quality, but for now I quite like the glitchy rough look these videos give off. They remind me of the Blair Witch Project movie; they give off a dark, roughly documented, almost creepy atmosphere, leaving the viewer wondering about the narrative.
Thanks all for reading and taking the time to look at my work!
Our live zoom stories on
Grief
Our Grief section began with a brief chat after our intermission followed by a story from Shane that related to searching for something from his childhood.
We then went on to tell an anonymous story, a story submitted by Chris W., and an audio recording submitted by Katie Emerling about loss. We were unable to include Katie’s second audio recording in the event due to time, but you can find it below in our stories section.
The chat then opened up to everyone and we all discussed grief and the ways we process it in a very vulnerable and honest exchange.
[please check back here tomorrow for the live footage]
Stories of
Grief
FAIRYTALE – An anonymous poem (<- Word document link)
Warning: This poem contains strong language and descriptive imagery of themes such as: death, substance abuse, guilt and grief. If any of these are upsetting to you, read at your own caution.
This is our Facebook comment section for the grief theme. Please feel free to use it to discuss the artwork, share your own story, or just to have a chat going regarding human connection!