The Beautiful; The Decayed.
This image series is conceptualized from the cancer that killed my mother-in-law in 10 weeks. Each image is an artist's interpretation of the spread of cancer as it progressed each week. The inspiration for this work came from the first MRI scan when she was diagnosed with cancer that had metastasized in her brain. The images from the MRI showed a dull grey brain with a small bright spot in the middle. The MRI images reminded me of a photoshoot of bubbles I had done many years ago and I felt the inspiration to create this work based of those MRIs and the bubble shoot. As each week passed, the colors of the cancer spread until it had consumed the entire brain. There is something beautiful and haunting about how these images create such vibrant colors, yet those colors signify the impending death of a loved one. As many people have suffered loss as my family has, I want them to experience these images with a sense of appreciation and hope they too, can see the beauty in the decayed.
Nine.
Eight.
Seven.
Six.
Five.
Four.
Three.
Two.
One.
Zero.
Art is a journey.
When I started this project, I had an idea of where that journey would take me, but I did not know what it would be like at the end. These photographs are a visual representation of the cancer that killed my mother-in-law.
10 weeks to live.
The doctors told her cancer had metastasized in her brain. She had 10 weeks to live, and that was it. Most of us never know the timer for our lives, but she did. These images labeled 9 to 0 represent the spread of cancer in the brain from the first week she was told to the final week of her death.
Colorful Cancer.
The first visit to the doctor and they did an MRI. The contrast in the image showed this dull grey color with a bright, beautiful color slowly spreading through the image. That was cancer. These images show the colors as it spreads throughout and eventually overtakes the brain.
Art is a Process.
For me, these images turned out to be therapeutic. Spending hours in the studio, under the single light of a strobe, photographing bubbles had a meditative feel. They are subdued, quiet, and peaceful. I want you, the viewer, to feel comfortable seeing these images from afar.
Come a little closer.
These images are meant to project peace but haunt your thoughts as well. Like cancer, I want these images to seep into your brain, body, and thoughts. As you step closer, the details of the images began to take form, your brain sees faces, it’s trying to pick up patterns, and make sense of the chaos, but it cannot.