See you later, 2024 (work in progress)

Why is love intensified by absence? The series "See You Later" explores the themes of absence and grieving.

It is divided into three sections. The first focuses on interior spaces—living rooms, bedrooms, or kitchens—where a significant element is missing, highlighting the void left behind. The second section depicts four characters shown from the back, moving toward a focal point beyond the frame. Though physically present, they are mentally already gone. In the third section, I represent neuroscientific elements, such as neurotransmitters, drawn on graph paper. This visual approach conveys the scientific aspects of romantic loss.

These three themes holistically address the neuroscientific concepts behind the mental process of grieving. By emphasizing what is missing and creating space for absence, my intent is to resonate with viewers who have experienced loss, providing a visual representation of this emotional state. Viewers are invited to notice the missing elements and build narratives to fill the gaps—imagining where the absent person might be, or contemplating the absence of a familiar object like a table.

One of the key inspirations for these artworks is the book “The Grieving Brain” by the neuroscientist Mary-Frances O'Connor. In an accessible way, she explains how our minds map and memorize our ecosystems. When a deeply ingrained piece of data, or a person, is no longer present, we often continue to perceive it as if it were still there, much like a phantom limb.

"See You Later" represents what is missing to foster a deeper understanding of the grieving process and greater empathy. It is not romanticized; it is sometimes purely scientific and difficult to process, and that’s okay.

When we focus on the void, we begin to realize that what is dear to us isn't always tangible or quantifiable—and this is where true love resides, answering the question of why absence is such an intense feeling.