​Killing Kevin

KILLING KEVIN comprises fifty-four antique handkerchiefs stitched with sections of text and image, a diary of the artist’s cancer treatment. Sirett named her carcinoma Kevin. Strung like prayer flags above and around the viewer, each embroidery contributes to a restless, sometimes jarringly beautiful whole. Regarding her use of handkerchiefs, Sirett explains: I am drawn to the tales they contain in their handmade stitches and initialled corners. Drawn also to the roles they may have played as keepsakes or love tokens, as signs of surrender or farewell. In stitching my own tale on them, I feel I am adding to layers of narrative and symbolism, each object already possesses.                                                                                                                                                                          Natalie Sirett 2021
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#1 - I AM NOT WHAT I WAS. I DON’T KNOW WHAT I AM

#2 - K is for KEVIN

#3 - I DON'T WANT TO DIE

#4 - I HAVEN'T DONE ENOUGH

#5 - KEVIN is my CARCINOMA

#6 - MALIGN

#7 - SHADOW

#8 - 48mm Grade 3 IDCarcinoma AKA KEVIN

#9 - TRIPLE, TRIPLE, TRIPLE NEGATIVE

#10 - WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT KEVIN

#11 - BIG C

#12 – PLAGUE(D)

#13 – KILLING KEVIN

#14 FIGHTING TALK

#15 – POISON CURE

#16 - CUTTING OUT & STITCHING TOGETHER HALF-STUFFED NOW WITH LEAKING SEAMS

#17 - IT’S A ‘WHAT IF I DON’T GET BETTER’ DAY

#18 - I AM SCARED ALL THE TIME, TIME SCARED I THE ALL AM...

#19 - STICK AROUND, BE FOCUSED, DON'T DIE

#20 - ADJUVANT AC-T CARBO INSECTS DON'T BITE ME (THEY KNOW)

#21 - CYCLOPHOSPHAMIDE

#22 - DOXORUBICIN

#23 - DESCENT

#24 - HAIR LOSS IS NOT GOING WELL. NO ONE UNDERSTANDS. I WANT TO SCREAM AND RAGE AND SMASH THINGS UP

#25 - FRAGILE

#26 – SHORN SHAMED THIS IS WHERE I LOST MYSELF

#27 - CAN'T SLEEP HAVEN'T CRIED ~ CRIED CAN'T SLEEP HAVEN'T ~ SLEEP CRIED CAN'T HAVEN'T

#28 – INSOMNIAC MANIAC STEROID FRENZY

#29 - HAIR LOSS IS NOT GOING WELL. IT MAKES MY MONSTEROUSNESS FEELS CONFIRMED. THESE ARE MY PRIVATE SORROWS. I DON’T WANT THEM WRITTEN ON ME

#30 – I’M FURIOUS

#31 – I MUST PAY

#32 - I DON'T WANT MY MISFORTUNE WRITTEN ON ME….

#33 - I WANT MY STUPID LITTLE LIFE BACK

#34 - I PUT MY HAIR IN A PAPER BAG

#35 SHORN I AM SHAMED THIS IS WHERE LOST MYSELF

#36 - SAMSOMED AND DELILAHED

#37 – I WANT

#38 – WORK HARD BE HOPEFUL DON’T DIE

#39 - PACLITAXEL

#40 - CARBOPLATIN

#41 - ANAPHYLAXIS

#42 - I TRY TO STAY ME BUT SHE KEEPS SLIPPING AWAY

#43 – THINGS GET LOST

#44 - HERE COME ALL THE OTHER FEARS, FREED FROM CAREFULLY CRAFTED BOXES

#45 - TAKE YOUR MEDICINE, BE GRATEFUL DON’T DIE

#46 - INVALID IN VALID, IN VEIN, IN VAIN

#47 – ANOTHER NIGHT on the STEROIDS

#48 - ANIMAL FEAR MOST OF THE TIME

#49 - SCANXIETY

#50 – IS IT GONE

#51 - SURVIVORSHIP

#52 - I DON'T KNOW WHAT I AM, I DON'T KNOW HOW I FEEL.

#53 – SURFACING CHANGED

#54 - UNLEARN EVERYTHING. NOW IS THE TIME