RECOVERY AND ART
20 March 2024
When past, present and future come together and my art is allowed to be part of the recovery process from an illness.
My mother is 73 and still works as a domestic worker. And she has been working for more than 40 years for the same family with four children, in the street where I grew up. Children my age so I used to come over there all the time. But we all grow up. We all fly out of the nest. Still, I always keep up to date with how everyone is doing through my mother.
A side note: When I discover the tuft technique, I spend a year and a half just creating. My style is quite graphic rather than 'life-like'. But I want to try it once and I design an eye. Hundreds of hours go into this work. I don't know if I will ever make a work like this again. I'm afraid I won't succeed again.
Almost a year ago, my mother tells me that one of the children, daughter F., was found to have a melanoma in her eye. F. is not yet 40 years old, which is very rare at that age. Thank God it can be treated.
Through my mother, I keep up to date with the treatment and progress and fortunately things are moving in the right direction. My mother also tells me that F. has seen my work of the eye here on LinkedIn and that this work now has special meaning for her.
It gives me goosebumps. It makes me sleep badly because how special is that? F. is still in the middle of treatment so I send her a message. 'I am reserving this work for you. First you are going to get better. Even if I have to reserve it for you for years without any obligation to buy. Get better first!'
A fortnight ago, we agreed to meet. When I open the door, all I can do is hug her. It is so special to see each other again after 30 years.
For hours we chatted, reminisced, laughed and also talked very seriously with each other. About life and what the impact of illness is. F. is a power woman. I have deep respect for her. She doesn't wonder "Why me?" and doesn't feel like a victim. She is so positive and has learnt the value of life. It is not that status job, that nice car or worrying about the neighbour's grass. Your health, your children, the relationship with your partner and with the most important people around you; that's what it's all about.
The eye has an important meaning in her life. It is the window to the soul. For her, it is a symbol of beauty and strength. It is the view of the future. Looking back (having crawled through the eye of the needle) but also looking forward. Seeing the value of life.
As I write this, I find myself touched again. Tears again and again. But not of sadness. Tears of pride. Of her. On this special story. (It had to be so. I don't believe in coincidences.) On my work. And that this may be significant in her recovery. That it symbolises strength and beauty.
After many more hugs, my work went home with her. We agreed to see each other again. In the future. Because the future we see ahead of us.
* I had F. read this post first and am publishing it with permission.