Catalyst of Grief (2011) 76x58cm, Fine point ink pen on Arches paper
Catalyst of Grief (2011)
Lauren Edmonds
Catalyst of Grief (2011) 76x58cm, Fine point ink pen on Arches paper [available for sale]
I commenced drawing this artwork the day a juvenile marsupial mouse I had been caring for passed away on the palm on my hand. Witnessing the sudden deterioration of the mouse’s health in my hand caused me to reflect over many thoughts including ideas relating to life and death and the lottery of life.
The drawing captures the moment, just before the mouses passing, when the juvenille mouse lifted its head and looked directly at me. I had looked back at the mouse with unsureness of how to interpret its action. Was this a last gesture from the the mouse? Being human, it would be all too easy to interpret this action as a last dramatic farewell, a sign of hope or a meaningful ‘thank you’ for the care I had given him. But as this drawing illustrated, it was just a mouse, how could there possibly be a greater in-depth meaning behind why the mouse lifted its head and looked at me? Perhaps it was up to me as a human to decide how much meaning I attach to events or actions such as these. After all, if you are observant enough, you don’t need to experience large events of tragedy to develop understanding. Instead you can learn from small things and when larger hurdles or tragedies do come your way, you that the opportunity to learn even more.
~ Lauren Edmonds (2011, 17 years old)