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Crematorium

This image taken by Becky Allen see more of her work here.

Squirrel Taxidermy

I took part in a Squirrel Taxidermy class at The London Taxidermy Academy. It was a one day class and although the photographs I took may look gory the process was surprisingly tasteful, and using a hairdryer to dry an empty squirrel draped across my lap, has to be one of the strangest things I've ever done. I'd recommend it as a way to spend any Sunday. 

Replica Memories

I began thinking about the division of sacred objects kept after a loved ones death between a group of people who treasure them, family and friends. I started by thinking of these items as communion tokens or similar to the small blessed tokens offered in Catholic churches, mass produced but by there nature, evocative. I decided to replicate my Grandmothers wedding ring as a starting point.

The first batch I produced are in plaster. Cheap material, easy to work with but very delicate, meaning the owner must look after it as well as the would the original.

Eventually I decided to try and make copies that were aesthetically more like the original. Pewter seemed like the natural progression, the metal has the same tactility at the gold of the original.

Video of Sand-casting process used to make the pewter rings.

All I Have left

In many cultures a persons belongings are ritually destroyed after their death ususally as part of the

grieving process. However we hold on to items as tangible memories of loved ones. We feel a

connection to the person we have lost via these objects. My intention for this project is to compile

a catalogue of my Grandmother’s belongings I have kept since her death last year.

These items may have little or no value to somebody else but to me some are sacred.

I have ordered the objects in the emotional and sentimental worth they hold for me.

I am interested whether they conjure a picture of the person they belong to in strangers minds?

Im most interested in what this process makes me feel. Its place in the grieving process? How I may feel when it’s done?

(This is only a small selection of the items I have collected but it gives an idea of the tone of the project)

I intend to categorise in much more depth, deconstructing items like this sewing box and cataloguing the contents.

dust to dust

make animated gifs like this at MakeAGif

Removed

This are a selection of pieces from a portfolio of work looking at the effect of Alzheimers. This was the initial catalyst into furthering my study of death.

To die will be an awfully big adventure.

J M Barrie