WORDS RACHEL EDWARDS - PHOTOGRAPHY BELLA MACREGOR - STYLING MATILDA OLIVER - MODEL CAITLIN WALSH
Newcastle born model and artist Caitlin Walsh’s platform ‘Good Grief’ seeks to change the conversation surrounding death. Following the sudden loss of her father during the pandemic, Caitlin was left grappling with feelings not only of loss but with the expectations that go with it. A quick google search into what to say when someone dies gives me almost two billion results. Apparently there are strict “do’s and dont’s”, all condensed into bitesize lists with the aim to minimize the chance of an awkward conversation. With 18 million people in the UK admitting to feeling uncomfortable discussing death, it’s little wonder that Brits prefer to ‘keep calm and carry on’.
“Good Grief” is an act of rebellion for Caitlin who was forced to feel physically isolated at her time of loss due to Covid restrictions, leading her to handle her own grief quite literally behind closed doors. A series of intimate portraits, captured by photographer Bella Macgregor and styled by Matilda Oliver, shows Caitlin in a vulnerable yet powerful state as she wears her father’s clothes and revisits both places and memories associated with him after his death. This visual representation shows the complexity of emotions associated with grieving and gives a glimpse into what is beneath the ‘I’m fine’ response that she’d learned to perfect.
The launch of the platform is the beginning of a community that Caitlin intends to grow. She plans to host a number of events and exhibitions to bring people together, encouraging people to submit their own artwork through any medium they like. With the launch of Good Grief, Caitlin has created a space of comfort through her own pain and gives us hope that one day we won't need to turn to Google for a list of 'do's and dont's' for processing death.
The launch of Good Grief is on the 13th December from 8pm. Venue: Courtyard 7, Fountayne Road. London. N15 4QL
