Till death do us appart

• Main Author: brandeus kirkkopelto, kristina
• Format: Others
• Language: English
• Published: Konstfack, Keramik & Glas 2021
• Subjects: Love; Gardening; Mortality; Presence; Expectations; Death-phobia; Humanities and the Arts; Humaniora och konst
• Online Access: http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:konstfack:diva-7817

A recent discovery made at Bar-Ilan University in Israel, demostrated in a scientific setting that the human mind has a neural mechanism actively making the self avoiding thoughts about its own mortality. Curiously enough the research further suggests that an awerness of the selt's death could potently lead to a more meaningful life.There is an inclination around being sick and weak, holding back how we approach end of life care and our inherent mortality; which in return affects presence and expectations regarding our lives. If death and transience were to be viewed as natural occurences, mirroring how we view horticulture and gardens, this could ease anxiety and phobia regarding the end.In my paper I am sharing research by Athul Gawande and Elisabeth Kubler-Ross regarding death-phobia and end of life care. As suggested in some of the literature, death-phobia may occur due to anxiety over not living a meaningful life and I am using Lev Tolstoy's fictional book The Death of Ivan Ilyich to evoke thought about mortality and what a meaningful life could be compromised of.In my conclusion and through my sculpture of enlarged flowers made out of cast glass and high fired stoneware; I modestly argue that love and presence can provide meaning and solace, for conquering  death-phobic acculturation. That by acknowledging that transience is a forum for beauty one could enhance the magic of the mundane.