Echoes of Sorrow: A Narrative Journey Through the Rollercoaster of Loss
Date
2024-09-09
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Abstract
This thesis explores the intricate and complex aspects of human experience, focusing on the interplay between artistic expression and the process of grappling with loss. It examines how art can serve as a transformative and therapeutic tool for individuals collectively experiencing grief. Central to this exploration is an installation designed as a dining room, where the audience, like guests, can sit at the table, flip through drawings, and engage in shared experiences of loss. This interactive setup, termed "sitting," invites guests to contribute their own stories of grief in a memory book, fostering a shared space of empathy and connection. Strict ethical standards are upheld by asking contributors to remain anonymous, not sharing personal details that might identify them, and destroying the memory book when the MFA exhibition ends. Each drawing in this collection acts as a personal diary, capturing emotions and experiences, and creating a collective narrative.
The research methods employed are qualitative and introspective, focusing on personal experiences as the primary source of knowledge. This thesis examines the personal therapeutic process through art and contributes to a broader cultural dialogue about resilience, vulnerability, and the human condition. By breaking the silence surrounding grief, this project transforms private suffering into a public declaration of resilience and hope.
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Keywords
loss, grief, intuition, therapeutic, healing, introspection, drawing, installation, art, art installation
Citation
Nemati, B. (2024). Echoes of sorrow: a narrative journey through the rollercoaster of loss (Master's thesis, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada). Retrieved from https://prism.ucalgary.ca.