RAGA,
Remeber tomorrow
Raga was diagnosed with early dementia, and is coming to terms with her wavering memory. Whilst on a walk one evening, we came across rosemary left outside. I later learned that in ancient Greece, scholars would wear Rosemary as a symbol of remembrance.
One of two Polaroids Raga's son Gavin took of me and Raga together whilst visiting Raga. The other sits on Raga's shelf, opposite her armchair.
Installation shot as part of the 'Blink and you'll Miss It' group exhibition at Islington Mill
Installation shot as part of the 'Blink and you'll Miss It' group exhibition at Islington Mill
In late 2022, I learnt that since my last visit my friend Raga had been diagnosed with a form of dementia. Though still in the early stages, it was slowly eroding her memory, often leaving her muddled and exhausted. Though the diagnosis was the catalyst for this work, this ongoing collaboration with Raga seeks to act as a celebration of Raga’s life, and explore themes of life, death, ageing, memory and belonging, and our friendship. The title of the project was drawn from the end of a note she wrote to me in scribbled pen.
Last August she held a ‘pre-wake, wake’ as a celebration of her life and the friendships she’d made over the years.