Artmaking Resilience: Reflections on Art-Based Research of Bereavement and Grief

Abstract

This article presents some of the elements of artmaking as sources of resilience within the process of bereavement and grief. It builds upon findings from an art-based research project conducted during the period of coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic that explored properties of resilience in the face of sickness and death, which suggests three active elements to resilience: the capacity to observe pain, possession of faith, and the support circle. The article ties these findings, with other artistic projects in which artmaking responded to and alleviated sorrow and loss.