Life, Death and Beauty: The Invisible Talk Back – Fear, No Fear

A two-channel projection partly made in-situ, that takes the familial experience of Edwin’s father’s death by assisted suicide as a guiding narrative.

Life, Death and Beauty: The Invisible Talk Back – Fear, No Fear 2009, comprised two elements; the one complete at the start of the project was a still-life with objects such as a vase with purple tulips, Edwin’s father’s watch and a changing series of photographs within a photographic frame. The other was developed daily over the period of the exhibition project. Written by Tracy while present in the gallery, excerpts of conversations with visitors, and her own reflections on the subject of life and death were photographed and projected each day.

Part of LIFE IS OVER! if you want it that took the familial experience of Edwin’s father’s death by assisted suicide in the Netherlands in 2000 as a guiding narrative.

The exhibition LIFE IS OVER! if you want it provided a discursive environment for production, presentation and reflection on issues of life and death and was made in response to familial experience with assisted suicide. A range of issues around contemporary death were considered; how artists have interpreted death throughout history, how objects and images impact on people’s ideas about death and the role that art can play in mediating issues of life and death. The designed environment combined projections, wall drawings, historical artworks, a public studio and an events programme, and merged practice, research and teaching.

Cooper Gallery, Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design, University of Dundee, Scotland.