INTRODUCTION

“I miss you.” “I wish you were here.” “I hate you.” “Why you?” These are thoughts that overwhelm a mind going through grief. When people think about loss, their first thought tends to be sadness. Yet what about the hatred, the rejection, the disconnection? Fragments of Time attempts to visualize the different nuances of grief that result from fading memories of a loved one through a series of paintings replicating a memory with a different emotion encompassing each. 

LITERATURE REVIEW

Several resources worked as a key foundation for my project. Suicide Bereavement and Complicated Grief  (Tal Young et all. 2012, June) clarified the different stages of grief: acute grief, integrated grief, and complicated grief. Acute grief describes the initial intense, distressing emotions such as numbness, emptiness, anger, and depersonalization. These emotions start to occur in waves or bursts due to reminders of the loss. Integrated grief is the next state in which there is an attempt to heal and return to “normalcy”. Complicated grief can develop when this healing does not occur and the pain remains intense. Noting guilt, questioning, perceived abandonment, and anger as key emotions of grief set the stage for Fragments of Time to build upon. 

Briscoe Park is a photographer and editor that creates realistic photos with unsettling undertones that acted as a large inspiration. These tones implemented in each painting solidifies the idea that despite each painting representing a memory that would be heartfelt, the context of the project makes them feel off. 

METHODS

Fragments of Time started through a general survey that found general memories tied to loved ones to signify how loss can happen with any person. Utilizing acrylic paint and 4 canvasses of different sizes  - to signify “big” or “small” moments in one’s life - each painting was built up from multiple layers and used techniques such as flicking, stamping, “alla prima” painting, as well as dry painting to add depth. 

AUDIENCE

Fragments of Time is expected to reach a general audience. Those who have experienced loss will hopefully resonate with its nuance. At the same time, those who have not experienced loss can reflect on how impactful each life is and how one’s disappearance can evoke several emotions. Through these paintings, the artist had a lot of time to reflect on their own loss, thinking about how much they miss those no longer present as well as cherishing the people who are still here. There are so many layers to the thoughts caused by grief, with frustration bubbling up every night or a wave of nostalgia and melancholy appearing during class. The artist hopes to continue discussing deeper topics and challenging others to digest feelings that are hard to address. 

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I want to thank my family for providing me with a large bulk of my old, yet still lovely, materials. I want to thank my friends, Yehun and Grace, and my partner Robert, who provided me advice and guidance throughout my whole process. Thank you Guillermo for peer reviewing my exhibition statement and providing great feedback. Lastly, thank you to Irene, who was the most wonderful advisor I could have asked for. 

REFERENCES

Tal Young, I., Iglewicz, A., Glorioso, D., Lanouette, N., Seay, K., Ilapakurti, M., & Zisook, S. (2012, June). Suicide bereavement and complicated grief. Dialogues in clinical neuroscience. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3384446/

Wanan. (2018). No Home.

Park, B. Is This The End https://www.briscoepark.com/portfolio/isthistheend