"I Wouldnt Want To Walk Down the Street and See Someone With His Eyes"- Acrylic and ink A3- Bella Woodfield 2019
ORGAN DONATION- A DISSECTION OF CONNECTIONS
Ten illustrations exploring thoughts and viewpoints from organ donator families and organ donation recipients.
By Bella Woodfield 2019
Organ donation is a subject that many people probably think about, maybe even discuss with loved ones, occassionally, and then neatly park it on a shelf in their minds.
And when the unthinkable happens, a partner dies or someone we know becomes gravely ill, thoughts of organ donation may sometimes surface again.
For this project, I was asked to produce ten illustrative pieces based on audio interviews from people who, all in some way, have been touched by organ donation.
Hearing the interviewees often heart wrenching accounts felt, on one hand, intrusive and at the same time, a privelege - afterall, death, in particular coupled with organ donation, is not something we talk that openly about, and listening to each personal story, trying to visualise the heartbreak and loss, tempered with love and life, lead me to explore the links and jusxtapositions between the ethereal and the tangible; Death with beginnings; Loss alongside Reclamation, and Generosity beside Guilt.
The audio interviews, although each interview personal, often had crossovers with other interviewees viewpoints, so I deliberately kept the pieces “non-specific”
eg. No identifiable “straight” portraits.
I was also intrigued by the connections that bind us all, sometimes strongly, sometimes less so- whether those connections are physical or metaphysical; emotional or clinical.
The final pieces are intended to be an amalgamation of feelings and responses toward organ donation, and hopefully, a catalyst for more open discussions surrounding the subject.
ORGAN DONATION- A DISSECTION OF CONNECTIONS
Ten illustrations exploring thoughts and viewpoints from organ donator families and organ donation recipients.
By Bella Woodfield 2019
Organ donation is a subject that many people probably think about, maybe even discuss with loved ones, occassionally, and then neatly park it on a shelf in their minds.
And when the unthinkable happens, a partner dies or someone we know becomes gravely ill, thoughts of organ donation may sometimes surface again.
For this project, I was asked to produce ten illustrative pieces based on audio interviews from people who, all in some way, have been touched by organ donation.
Hearing the interviewees often heart wrenching accounts felt, on one hand, intrusive and at the same time, a privelege - afterall, death, in particular coupled with organ donation, is not something we talk that openly about, and listening to each personal story, trying to visualise the heartbreak and loss, tempered with love and life, lead me to explore the links and jusxtapositions between the ethereal and the tangible; Death with beginnings; Loss alongside Reclamation, and Generosity beside Guilt.
The audio interviews, although each interview personal, often had crossovers with other interviewees viewpoints, so I deliberately kept the pieces “non-specific”
eg. No identifiable “straight” portraits.
I was also intrigued by the connections that bind us all, sometimes strongly, sometimes less so- whether those connections are physical or metaphysical; emotional or clinical.
The final pieces are intended to be an amalgamation of feelings and responses toward organ donation, and hopefully, a catalyst for more open discussions surrounding the subject.
“From A Dark Place- If Tom'd life helped someone”
This was inspired by Tom's mother's interview.. the idea that through so much sadness and loss (the dark place) the family were happy in the thought that by donation, his life could help someone else (hence the lighter elements) and also I think the thought of so many people, young and old, waiting for organs and so relieved by his donation. The dark people in the background are the family emotionally, reluctantly giving his body away, and their hands hold on to him. He in turn, comforting them with his hand on the centre character, as if to reassure them what they are doing is fine with him.
'You are giving A Part Of Your Body Away- and it won't be wasted'
Total Number of organ donations in the United Kingdom 2018- 2019
4976 (3953 From deceased donors ; 1043 from living donors)
Total Number Of patients Awaiting Transplants in the United Kingdom As Of 30th June 2019
6133
S. was very positive in her interview about the need for more education surrounding organ donation.
“You are giving a part of your body away- it wont be wasted” is representative of how our organs are so vital to the number of people awaiting transplants. I avoided as much as possible an “infographic” style, and hinted at the beneficiaries of organ donation, including the donation of bone, bone marrow, vital organs and corneas.
"You Are Just A Shell After Death"
As a donor, c. was very open about his feelings towards organ donation, and I was struck by the way he saw the body as “Just a shell” after death. In this piece, I have tried to depict the ethereal body, exhaled by the “shell” (The dying breath)
"Even Children Can Donate"
A. was very adamant that organ donation should be talked about from an early age- in schools and openly. This image is simply based on the quote “even children can donate”
"From One Person.."
This piece is inspired by the letters that K. mentions after M.s organs were donated, and the number of people helped by just one person.
Heart... went to 19 year old
Kidneys- Went to a 29 year old and a 50 year old
Pancreas- went to a 50 year old
Liver- went to a 50 year old
Lungs- Went to a 45 year old
"Human Scaffold"
“With support we really will make a difference. This has been the hardest thing I've ever had to go through”. This image is meant to portray the strength and weaknesses of people when confronted with organ donation.
"He Flew Too Close To The Ground"
This interview portrayed the heartbreak and loss tempered with strong positivity in knowing that through the loss of their son D., so many people had benefitted from receiving his organs. In this piece I have tried to capture the positive energy that D. had in life; the selfless and loving way D's family and friends still approach remembering him and to try to demonstrate how far reaching and positive organ donation is.
"Those That Are Left behind Are Walking In The Valley Of The Shadow Of Death"
The interview surrounding C's death I found particulary heartbreaking, and the phrase “Those that are left behind are walking in the valley of the shadow of death” really resonated with me- possibly due to the circumstances surrounding his death and the seeming waste of a young life.
This image attempts to address the depth of devastation and loss felt by those left behind after the death of someone so loved. The heart is there because “C's heart was so big- you could never fill it” and attempts to show the seemingly unsummountable path of grief.
"I Wouldnt Want To Walk Down the Street and See Someone With His Eyes"
G. spoke very honestly about her much loved son M. had donated pretty much everything that was deemed useful. The love, generosity and belief in organ donation came across very poignantly in her interview.
In this illustration, I have attempted to show the big heartedness, and free-ness that m.s family showed in relation to donating his organs, but tempered with the reluctance to donate his eyes.
“I wouldn't want to walk down the street and see someone with his eyes', hence the hands covering his eyes.
G. also spoke about how she was given a lock of hair and handprints and how these help her feel he is close, so I incorporated the handprints in the image, both to symbolise the bond G. feels through the handprints given to her after m.s death, and to show the openness and willingness with which the family approached donating m.s organs
(Symbolism of the butterfly was mentioned by a lot of the interviewees)
"In The Garden, when we see a butterfly, we know he's Here"
This image is meant to portray the connections people have with their loved ones, and the organ donators and is based on a quote by one of the interviewees.
