Table 4 Phases of integration of experiences of contingency within a co-creation process

1.1 Art communications – exploring through the senses

1.2 Art communications

- tracing different aspects

2.1 Element compilation

– broad arrangement

2.2 Element compilation

– acuminating

1

1. Reading the story ‘Farewell from Phoebe’^a

2. Images

3. Withered flowers

4. Roses

5. Fabrics

1. Reflecting upon her inability to have children

2. Little girl with her parents

3. Transient nature of her body

4. God’s guidance

5. A dress that her mother once made

Making and subsequently photographing the flower collage which was arranged in the shape of a uterus

Looking for the most fitting arrangement of the projected photoprint to fit a blanket

1. The blanket

2. Photographing her as she was sleeping under the blanket

3. A poem she had written

“This blanket is a warm wrapping of love, a safe consisting of my feelings. I am able to say: let go and let God” (i.e. ’I surrender to God’s plan’)

2

1. Used bandages

2. Wool fabrics

3. Stones and shells

4. A piece of the Djoser pyramid

1. Bandages were collected during the chemotherapy treatment

2. She always loved knitting

3. Collecting pieces of the earth she once inhabited

4. Working in Egypt

Knitting a turquoise scarf

Using a 3D pen to create a coral necklace

Adding stones and shells to knitted wool and creating a nautilus shape with dyed ribbons of bandage.

Connecting the remaining coloured bandage while making a necklace

“This work shows a sense of gratefulness in the additional time that was granted to me. The chosen colours represent the aura of a person leaving this world.”

3

1. Creating curved shapes using clay

2. Drawing of the body consisting of a cut out liver

3 .The colours yellow and red

1. “This is a protective female snake.”

2. “The liver represents my anger and fear and I don’t want that.”

3.”Red and yellow represent passion.”

Arranging 5 curved leaves, where the centre represents graceful femininity. And the other leaves represent protection and connection

Strengthening the leaves by pins, and using hydrochloric acid to create yellow-red corrosion

Finding the right supporting base for the leaves to stand on

“The work expresses the pain of the illness experience, I feel like a phoenix that arises from that pain. The connection and protection from my loved ones is represented in the leaves around me.”

4

1. Reading and rewriting the story of Orpheus^a

1. Identification with Euridice and Orpheus as her husband, both trying to negotiate with Hades to prevent her from dying before she is ready

Going on a hike in nature to find elements representing the natural course of life and death

Creating a hiking map and formulating instructive sentences to accompany the map

Dividing the map in three parts, accompanied by distinct piano and chime music, leading the hiker to a deeper experience of stillness

“The presence of the stillness in nature helps me to see the mortality in nature as a known fact representing my own mortality.”

5

1. Drawing a Rich Picture of a road with heavy storm, a burning bush, and light at the end of the road

2. Experimenting with electrical guitar and sounds of thunder

1. “The heavy storm is the cancer on my path in life.”

2. “The guitar music is melancholic suffering, but it is not allowed to take over.”

Creating a film showing a scenic motorbike route accompanied by melancholic guitar music

Letters of thanks to friends are being added, as a symbol of gratitude for their support

The film of his life’s journey is being placed on a website. The music is being printed on a long playing vinyl record and the drawing is used as artwork on the album cover

“The motorbike is passing the cancer on the road, and with the support of others the journey is continued to its end. There is bright light at the horizon.”

6

1. Talking about multiple technical elements of the construction of a seraphine

1. Creating and playing music on seraphines has been a vital element throughout his life and connects to many memories

Compiling several romantic pieces of seraphine music and explaining how he feels while listening and playing those musical pieces

Filming in the church where he plays the seraphine almost daily

A film of his hands as he plays the seraphine, accompanied by delayed seraphine music. A photo still of his hands as he plays seraphine

“This film and photo are an impression of me. They reflect playing in the church and also the moments that I feel melancholic about living without my wife.”

7

1. Reading the story of Orpheusª and listening to music inspired by the story

2. The colour white while painting an egg

3. Sensing bird feathers

1. “I am going to try to retrieve Euridice: she represents my tenderness that has been neglected for years.”

2. The year’s cycle

3. The inner tenderness-being able to transcend above everything worldly

Felting a woollen garment in the shape of an egg

Embroidering feathers and braided horsehair into the garment

Selecting pictures reflecting the creation process of the garment and making a booklet

“The wool felt garment represents an attitude of tenderness and of finding a wider perspective in welcoming life as it is. Understanding why things had to happen in a certain way.”

8

1. Reflecting upon portraits during a Renaissance exposition

2. Exploring the use of colours in pictures of nature

1. “I am not really aware of status sensitivity, but I dress myself according to my identity as a manager: grey colours.”

2. “These are places that I once visited and I was astonished by their beauty.”

1. Posing in different standing positions for the artist to make drawings of her

2. Formulating words that represent her inner experience of her identity

Colouring-in different drawings of the poses

Colouring-in a drawing of herself being posed as a confident woman, using very bright colours. Installing a picture of this portrait as profile picture on social media

“This full body portrait with passionate bright colours is a statement towards the world, where I am showing this self-expression.”

9

1. The story of the ‘Ant’s departure’ª is an inspiration to draw an ant.

2. Exploring art works in books by Morandi and Katharina Grosse

1. “The ant is caring and pays close attention to her surroundings. Her eyes radiate love- this is how I have been, but I am also afraid of people.”

2. Purple represents love, green represents nature and yellow represents divine trust

Drawing the theme ‘connection’ which is represented by two globes touching each other

An attempt to draw a pile of books, elements of a kitchen apron, several pots and pans and animals, including her dog, as she is practicing with drawing techniques to refine the pictures

Drawing the aforementioned elements again (books, pots and pans, kitchen apron, husband and dog)

“All important aspects of life are represented in drawings consisting of multiple elements. The connection to others is made visible.”

10

1. The story of the ‘The Metamorphosis’^a

2. Selecting pictures for a collage

3. Sensing fabrics

4. Plastering a mould of her hands

1. “The last sentence in the story touched me: ‘I could also ask for help’.”

2. The pictures remind her of her childhood

3. The fabrics bring up tenderness and resistance simultaneously

4. The hands represent giving and receiving

Creating a collage of pictures and fabrics that represent important elements in her life.

Plastering another mould of her hands

Tearing apart all her diaries and making paper-mache out of the pieces

Creating a paper-mache bridge constructed of paper from shredded dairies, representing her spiritual transition from earthly life to the afterlife

“The bridge is being constructed out of my life stories. It is a cross over and meant for the transition to the afterlife, guided by those that are deeply connected to me.”