BEHIND, Arts in an Oncology Ward

Behind is part of the series Journeys, 6 + 1 square paintings, 2 triptychs, and a wallpaper, commissioned by Arts in Health.

Year
2021

Dimensions
76 cm x 76 cm – 29.92″ x 29.92″

Technic
Archival pigment print

This body of work is integral to its destination, inseparable from the context in which it will soon be permanently exhibited, the oncology ward of a public hospital.

In this oncology ward, walls may be white but rare are those who aren’t haunted by existential questions.  For some of us, the very idea of mortality might even occur for the first time as we pass there as a patient, a relative or a staff member.

Indeed, in Western countries, we tend to avoid, if not deny the very idea of terminal illnesses and death.  Some of us might be aware that it will happen but without lingering on the idea, death feels as though it could only happen… later, in an unthinkable amount of time.

Here, I wanted to create invitations for patients and their relatives who pace up and down the ward corridors, often alone, loaded with feelings and thoughts they are not familiar with.  Invisibly present and symbolically holding their hand, I wanted us to walk that path together, affirming that I was in this questioning with them.

The Canberra Hospital Arts and Health Curator, Dr Jenny McFarlane writes, “Marie Barincou works with emotions like some artists work with a still life. Her inspiration comes from her empathetic engagement with the emotions of others.”

The Journeys series was born during the Covid19 pandemic, which strongly reminded us how important our connections were.  Painting this series at that specific time was an opportunity for me to be fully in the present moment and still sparkle.

When confronted with the potential end of the beautiful gift life is, many of us tend to feel and reflect more than usual.  With this series, I wanted to open stations, contemplative spaces that could nurture passerby’s reflections and provide them with some experience of plenitude.

I started each image in watercolour, a medium that reflects the vibration of the unforeseen, the very essence of life.  To paint in this context meant disappearing as myself, it meant placing myself in a state of being in which no one was here to paint, letting emerge what had to manifest through the liquid colours and shapes.  I didn’t sketch.  Opening to what was unfolding, I had no clue where each image was taking me.  I simply opened spaces and, in the moment, let them become.

Copyright
©Marie Barincou, All Rights Reserved