Never the Same, 2020

Then I started to notice dead trees wherever I walked or drove. They seemed to be surrounding me. As the pandemic progressed, so did my concern for ill family members. My mother's partner was diagnosed with cancer. Also having dementia she needed full care so was sent to an aged care facility. We couldn't visit due to lockdowns but by some stroke of luck, when she was dying I was able to stay at the facility overnight as we were out of lockdown at the time. It was a life changing experience to help her be more comfortable as she passed. And to witness first hand what the staff in aged care were going through.

Dead trees started showing up in my artwork. They began to represent the parts of me and all of us that were dying due to the changes in our society. Living a privileged life in Australia and suddenly experiencing deep hardship left me with a greater appreciation for those who are disadvantaged in numerous ways. And a deep sense of the isolation that elderly people around the world have experienced as a result of social isolation. This has taken it's toll on mental health and led to a pandemic of loneliness.