Grief and loss are a natural part of life, but we can never estimate the impact it will have on our day to day lives, it walks with us every day. When people truly disrupt our lives in both positive and negative ways they are never forgotten, they grow with us and shape us. I lost my greatest love and I had to keep walking without him, he shaped my naive teenage self, he made me stronger, he helped me trust and he destroyed me. I loved and I lost.
– Kelly Runcie –
Kelly studied Creative Arts at Bath Spa University where she specialized in textile print design. Her main source of inspiration came from grief, protection and the idea of street armor. Kelly is currently studying a distance MA in Design Management at Staffordshire University whilst working as a Fashion Lecturer at Huizhou University in China. She has been living and working in China for 5 years.
“What was it like to lose him?
It was like hearing every goodbye ever said to me – said all at once.”
– Lang Leav
Grief and loss are a natural part of life, but we can never estimate the impact it will have on our day to day lives, it walks with us every day. When people truly disrupt our lives in both positive and negative ways they are never forgotten, they grow with us and shape us. I lost my greatest love and I had to keep walking without him, he shaped my naive teenage self, he made me stronger, he helped me trust and he destroyed me.
I loved and I lost.
The work I created reflected the fragility of life, the steps taken that will not be taken in the same way again, and the memories stored away for moments when we feel strong enough to remember. I worked on a collection of shoes, each pair representing a hope, fear and dream. Photographic imagery, drawings and text were used to create the digitally printed fabric.
At first glance what may appear delicate and gentle actually represents the strength of human nature and the hope to carry on when our catalyst for life has been taken. Love being the prominent feature, without it we have no reason. Confronting my fears as reality, my hopes when all seemed lost and my ever changing dreams.
The process of drawing, re-reading love letters, looking over photographs and mementos healed much of the pain and became highly therapeutic. Encouraging me to feel and reflect on the life I had once loved, focusing on self over death. Pain creates beauty in the most unexpected of places.
My grief became shame, my happiness became my mask. We dress ourselves to show togetherness and perfection when really all we want is to break.
Death & the Maiden 