A Parting Repast

Both the thesis document and exhibition comprise the story of my journey through grief, examination of loss, contemplation of death, and transformation through acceptance and relinquishment. I conflate art and emotion to put form to the complex human experience of watching a loved one die, having to say a last goodbye, and the mourning that ultimately follows. I examine the rituals surrounding death, the role of memory, and the symbolic presence of food as a shared experience of both mourning and nourishment, the intimate moments of mourning, and the gradual process of finding peace and closure. Featuring works from a diverse range of media, my thesis installation includes a layered assemblage of vessels, fruit and juice, candles, personal mementos, photographs, metal, glass, wax, branches, and a performance involving jewelry. Each object in the exhibition reflects the multifaceted nature of grief—whether it is expressed through abstract representation, intimate portraiture, symbolic still life, or the immersive installation and performance. The works invite reflection on the delicate balance between sorrow and acceptance. In a world that often rushes past grief, the exhibition provides a moment to pause and acknowledge the deep emotional truths of loss. Through the lens of art, grief becomes a means to transcend sorrow and becomes a catalyst for transformative healing and reconciliation.