Reflections on Life and Death - the Installation
My installation at the Bribie Community Arts Centre for 2 weeks in late September expanded beyond the 2 coffins introduced in the previous post to include large (1.8 m diameter), flambouyant moving sculptural piece, Celebration, and a more peaceful hanging 'All is Well' which contained an element of grief that balanced the joy of Celebration. My coffin was accompanied by a large hanging of most of my Christmas Cards since I started making them in high school in 1962.
The following photos give a bit of a taste of the installation, which deeply moved those who were willing to engage with it - and was for me, a fantastic opportunity to see my artistic interpretation of my life's journey so beautifully displayed.
 |
| Overview Left |
 |
| Overview Right |
 |
| My coffin |
 | ||
| Coffin for civilisation |
 |
| Celebration |
 |
| All is Well |
 |
| My Christmas Cards |
And what is next? I have reluctantly resigned from the Printmaking group with the feeling that this would be my last exhibition with them - so my artistic endeavors will probably take other directions, as yet unknown! My coffin lives beside my bed as a reminder that I might die at any time - and I hope to make, and decorate a second coffin for Bob. My concerns that we might at any time be faced with an abrupt and probably fatal within a relatively short time change of climate continue to grow (https://guymcpherson.com/) as does my focus on living life as fully as possible each day. My goal is that if I have time to reflect just before my death I will be satisfied that I have lived as fully and responsibly as I could.
Hallelujah!
And a Celebration!
A
kaleidoscope of colour and motion to celebrate
the
amazing beauty of our world…
Ever
changing – reminding us that nothing ever stays the
same.
A
celebration filled with gratitude that we are part of all its
mystery.
Will
this celebration end with my death?
Will
it end with the death of our civilisation?
Or
will this celebration continue forever?
We
create a world filled with golden riches
Which
dazzle our eyes and clutter our minds.
We
confidently proclaim:
ALL
IS WELL
Proud,
and drugged by our 'success'
We
look beyond our self-centred pleasures.
And
discover to our horror that our environment is empty and dying,
And
our minds and bodies are sickened by poisons created by our golden
riches.
Our
hearts ponder:
ALL
IS WELL?
Confused,
frightened and frustrated,
We
remember the quiet inner space
Where
we can explore the eternal mystery of life,
See
that everything is connected.
And
know that
ALL
IS WELL
