hanging in De Pluk


this is my contribution to the group exhibition in De Pluk, in the aftermath of Covid (one hopes)
'wat we meenemen en wat we missen kunnen'
'what we take with us and what we can do without' 

handmade apron, containing fabrics from many women all over the globe and a broad band original seventies kitchen-curtain-fabric from our parents' home, vintage child's apron -mine or my sister's- a photo of my parents on a family holiday in Brittany in the seventies, my short note


my work, needless to say, is all about my personal loss, rather than Covid, although I sense it echoes what many have experienced

on the piece of paper to the right, which is an essential part of the piece, my words:

In the last year I have lost both parents within a space of three months.
People say:
'they reached a ripe old age'
'better like this than the other way around'
.....yeah right, whatever

I miss them
All I have left are memories




 

Comments

deemallon said…
People often stumble in knowing what to say to someone who is grieving, don’t they? Your apron looks amazing.
Liz A said…
the ties that bind ...

beautiful work
Marti said…
Aprons- symbol of home, of together times. Your apron is stunning.

Both my parents wore aprons. My Mom had long ones, short ones, some with ruffles, some made up just for the holidays some that buttoned in back and the bottom was one long pocket. My Dad had a special apron, black that was long with a tie around the neck and my Mom had embroidered the Spanish flag and a bota bag! cause my Dad never wore his apron when he grilled outdoors without also having his leather bota bag, filled with wine.

One of the best conversations I had with an old family friends after the deaths of my parents, they died within two years of each other, simply asked a question? The question was, "Were you ready for them to go?" The friend who asked the question also answered it by saying, "No, but I still talk to them but don't get the usual funny answers from your Mom that made me laugh or the wise answers from your Dad that made me think..."

On another note: Saskia, I thought of you today as I finished reading a book, Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia. Whey did I think of you? Well because the books if filled with fungus but you don't really understand the importance until around pg. 211...this book is a spine tingling horror read and I'm glad I finished reading it in daylight...! Here is a bit:

"The fungus, it runs under the house, all the way to the cemetery and back. It's in the walls. Like a spider's web. In that web we can preserve memories, thoughts, caught like the flies that wander into a real web. We call it the repository of our thoughts, of our memories, the gloom."

How is that possible?

Fungus can enter into symbiotic relationships with host plants. Mycorrhiza. Well it turns out it can also have a symbiotic relationship with humans. The mycorrhiza in the house creates the gloom."...

You have ancestral memories because of a fungus?"....n
i love scrollingdown from your words and there she is....
your mother....that glorious smile....
Mo Crow said…
(((Saskia))) such a beautiful honouring
Nancy said…
Saskia~ Your apron is beautiful comfort. Well done! And the missing, the missing continues, it's edges softened by time. All of those memories tumbling around, wooshing out now and then like beach glass on the shore...edges softened, worn smooth, but the glass itself remaining.
xo
Saskia said…
they do Dee, as I have done too, and probably will do when at a loss for words....we do our best I guess, which is all we can do
Saskia said…
those ties Liz, I had many, countless thoughts whilst making the apron and then assembling this piece as it now stands, or rather hangs, one being how the apron strings not only literally echo the saying but represent the umbilical chord between mother & child, only truly severed when one dies
Saskia said…
sounds like an exciting read Marti
both my parents wore aprons too! I didn't use to, but started wearing one a couple of years ago....some days I wear one all during the day and even go for a walk wearing it;-)
I do so enjoy reading about your background in your comments, very blogworthy!
Saskia said…
glorious indeed, she could make herself smile for a photo and feel it Grace
Saskia said…
((namasté Mo))
Saskia said…
the beach glass softening is such a beautiful analogy Nancy; the apron being soft does feel comforting...not something I had thought of, but now thanks to you I do
jude said…
personal loss is what can really know.
beautiful work.
Saskia said…
quite Jude, living the experience does not compare to 'thinking one knows'

how little I knew barely a year ago
buysse maria said…
hey saskia , wat een dierbare duurzame schorten in kleuren patronen van verlangen en herinnering , een eerbetoon aan die momenten .
Als je de oudste van 10 bent dan zijn veel van je stoffelijke herinneringen vergaan , door de jaren heen weg gedaan mede door de jongeren ,Op rommelmarkten zie ik dan soms van die materie liggen ... herinneringen aan hoe het was .... en glimlach in dankbare herkenning , streel ze in gedachten en ben dankbaar om de geur de handeling het moment van gebruik in die dagen ... ze zijn nog aanwezig ... those day's , in gedachten geef ik jou nu een knuffel in gedeelde herinnering.
Saskia said…
hi Maria, we doen wat we kunnen

tungsten

tungsten

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