For this years Biblio exhibition, I was located a book that came with a content note:
This book deals with loss grief in relation to suicide.
As a neuro-scientific artist this book reached me at a particularly relevant juncture. I am in the process of making work centred around the interplay of neuropathology and psychopathology part of which includes collating stories and data from individuals experiencing chronic suicidal ideation. Attempting to tackle this delicate subject with care and respect, of course this book, written from the perspective of the other side of the coin, the survivors left behind landed in my lap.
Suicide is a subject not handled well - sometimes romanticised in art, bumbled in the media and from my discussions with those with lived-experience dealing with suicial ideation, it’s no better in medicine and psychiatry. The conundrum I face is how to be respectful to the deceased and those left behind… and those that live day to day with the infliction of the ideation.
Isobel Beech’s Sunbathing offers profound insights, exploring the flip side of the coin - the experiences of those left behind after the suicide of a loved one. It delves into generations, family dynamics, and both formal and informal support structures. The narrative touches on the journey of self-discovery through grief and loss, emphasising that our minds and memories; our bloodlines, accompany us, no matter where we venture.
I hope my piece, can sit within the discussion with humanity humanity and respect.
Lada Dedić’s notes in Isobel Beech’s Sunbathing