My Life, My Coffin is a part of Life Before Death, an initiative of The Lien Foundation to start a candid and honest conversation about death and dying. FARM generously invited me to participate in the project. It is a poignant and meaningful endeavor, one that allowed me to confront my cynicism and overcome the fear of forging meaningful connections with strangers.
My subject is Ms. Kitty Fogh, a vivid storyteller and teacher. Succinctly put:
90-year-old Kitty is one of the most colourful characters you’ll meet at the nursing home. This affable former English teacher is of Danish-Ceylonese parentage, and has lived at St. Joseph’s for over 30 years. By her own admission, Kitty has led a full life and enjoyed a very satisfying career in education. In her day, she also coached netball, and was involved in drama, the choir and folk dancing. She still speaks fondly of her teaching days, her students and her former colleagues. Kitty is especially proud of being invited to teach country dancing to members of the royal family of Malaysia’s Johor state.
I want the artwork to embody her lively spirit and, at the same time, to address the issue of death in a gentle light. Searching for a solution, I stumbled upon a poignant quote by Louisa-May Alcott, author of Little Women, and much like Kitty herself, a Renaissance woman, a teacher, and a throughly independent spirit. The quote says: Love is the only thing we can carry with us as we go, and it makes the end so easy.
The quote is rendered in organic, flowing form and warm color palette. In addition to that, I created little characters, cheerful boys and girls, to represent Kitty's students, the source of her pride and happiness in life.
Thanks to Ms.Deanna Ng for the photos.
