Lockdown Flock
Sep 14th, 2020
Spring has sprung!
Who would’ve thought that the year 2020 would unfold in the way that it has!
Art can be like that too, unpredictable! Sometimes an artwork has a life of its own and I, as the artist am just the mechanism enabling the creation to appear – as if by magic. Other times it is an absolute slog and no matter how much time one spends on an artwork, it is stubborn and refuses to become anything. This rollercoaster ride of creativity is the life of an artist and it has been made very clear during the pandemic that it is more important now than ever, to show up in the studio.
Lockdown was a frantic emotional time for me. It was the last three months of my darling fathers life. As Mary Oliver so aptly describes, ”When death comes like an iceberg between the shoulder blades. I want to step through the door full of curiosity. Wondering: what is it going to be like, that cottage full of darkness?” To put it in perspective, my Dad was my Afrikaburn partner. He had a zest for life, people and nature like no other person I’ve encountered. We spoke nearly every day.
The reason I am opening up about this is because life and art are so interrelated. Both are the unfolding of stories. The trauma of those months were unbearable at times and all I could do when I had no idea what to do with myself, was to get into my studio and draw. Strangely, I needed something lighthearted to create and so the “Lockdown Flock” emerged. They always brought a smile to my face. The flock is small but powerful in its energy. On reflection, the titles of each artwork convey my emotions during that time.
With Women’s Month just behind us, I am reminded of how incredibly blessed I am to have amazing women in my life. They are the glue that keeps me together. Their laughter is the best medicine, their tears are shared parts of stormy days, their curiosity a reminder of little joys, their strength is formidable, their vulnerability is real and our hearts are connected. We are all so very different and it is these differences that mirror us and gently urge us to grow and learn from each other.
I have recently launched Gift Vouchers as an additional product of riXiart. This allows the recipient to either keep an eye open on Facebook or Instagram, for new works I post to purchase or to request a commission. I’m very excited about this, and already so many friends have pulled together to purchase a Gift Voucher for a loved one.
To conclude, I’d like to share these words by Liesel Graham:
Look at you, holding onto that fragile dream, despite it all. Brave dreamer, never stop believing.
