Local artist shares her unique project
MEET LOCAL ARTIST COURTNEY-BETH KNOWLES, WHO CREATED A UNIQUE ARTWORK IN MEMORY OF HER BROTHER, WHO PASSED AWAY FROM SIDS
At just 23 years old, local artist Courtney-beth Knowles is known for the variety in her creations — namely, her painting and drawing, as well as sculptural pieces and ceramics.
Her works, though, are known to feature narratives, playing out stories, dabbling in elements of theatrics.
However, one of her projects in particular, known as Dear Daniel, tells a very special story.
“In this project, my aim was to explore my relationship with my brother Daniel, who died when he was three months old,” Courtney-beth says.
Daniel died as a result of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, or more commonly known as SIDS.
“He would be 24 in a few months — a year older than me,” she remembers.
“Family is important to me — I have three brothers and a sister, living, (and) I love them unconditionally.
“While Daniel died before I was born, I have a connection to him.
“My mother and father never shied away from talking about him, or hanging pictures of him on the wall.
“Daniel was a part of our life, even if he wasn’t with us.”
Her art project, Dear Daniel ,isa unique nod to her brother, with countless paper cranes coming out of a suitcase, many of which are suspended from the roof.
“Cranes symbolise different things in different cultures, from alertness, protection, love, longevity, wisdom, peace, health to freedom,” Courtney-beth notes.
“In Japan, there is a tradition of folding a thousand paper cranes for newborn babies as a wish for a thousand years of happiness and prosperity.
“In Chinese legends, cranes carry the souls of the dead to the heavens above.
“The crane taking souls to heaven echoes the occidental (Western) tale of a stork delivering babies.
“While these are symbols from two distinct cultures, the imagery of both in relation to Daniel appealed to me.
“The cranes in the suitcase are both a gift to Daniel and, in the case of the flying cranes, to symbolise his life that was cut short, with his soul being carried to heaven.
“The suitcase is a parcel but also a metaphor for travel and life as an extension of that.”
For Courtney-beth, the death of her brother was never ignored, and her parents talked freely about him.
While a topic very close to her heart, she has enjoyed the feedback she has received from her highly emotive and unique piece of work.
“It’s been great hearing the different responses I have had from people about my work,” Courtney-beth adds.
“Those who have said that they are surprised that I have chosen such a taboo subject to those who have been moved to share with me about their siblings or children who have died.
“Our lives are never truly extinguished when we live on in the memories of those that knew and loved us.”
Courtney-beth finds that art is an experience and that, like her Dear
Daniel project, art is drawn on from one’s experiences — it influences, and is influenced by what we see and hear.
“The process is important to me — coming up with ideas and experimenting,” Courtney-beth says.
“And, the happy accidents that often happen along the way. “It’s also something I use to relax.” Courtney-beth has been a local since she was four-years-old, and has earned
herself a Certificate IV in Visual Arts and a Diploma in Visual Arts from Toowoomba TAFE and a Bachelor of Creative Art (Visual Art) from the University of Southern Queensland.
She first showed her work at the Toowoomba Regional Art Gallery, where she painted a portrait and submitted it to the Toowoomba Art Society and The Chronicle Junior Art Expo.
From this, she was awarded Best Picture and the Art Society Bursary.
Including elements of Toowoomba in her work, Courtney-beth has painted a series of portraits based on sketches of people she observed in the Grand Central food court.
Alongside this, she has developed a continuation of the Dear Daniel project as well.
“Looking more at mourning children as a whole rather than focusing just on Daniel, I folded several hundred modular paper flowers into the shape of burial mound,” Courtney-beth reflects.
This young creative is looking forward to the future.
Her 2018 plans include enrolling in a Bachelor of Creative Arts (Honours), with a multi-disciplinary degree in Visual Arts and Theatre.
“I simply couldn’t imagine my life not creating,” Courtney-beth declares.
“I come from a creative family, although we all use different mediums.
“My parents have always encouraged our dreams and have always told us that we could accomplish anything we set our minds to.”
To keep viewing this spectacular artist’s work, visit her Facebook page, Courtney-beth Knowles.
My mother and father never shied away from talking about him, or hanging pictures of him on the wall. Daniel was a part of our life, even if he wasn’t with us. COURTNEY-BETH KNOWLES