This large charcoal drawing was exhibited alongsidethe works of Mat Collishaw and Charlotte Verity RA, amongst others, in an invited exhibition titled ‘Kill orCure’ at Wolfson College, University of Cambridge.T

his work takes Aconitum carmichaelii as its starting point-a beautiful but extremely poisonous plant used as a pain killer. it is also known as Duàn Chángin Chinese, meaning literally, ‘gut-breaking’, although the is closer to ‘heart-breaking’ in English. 

The name embodies this emotion of traumatic sadness due to a sense of loss, often prompted by bereavement. The work revisits the Mother and Child motif as the artist’s mother had a major operation removing most part of her gut a few years back. 

The ambiguity of the art work allows viewers space to construct their own narrative, reflecting personal and universal stories. 

Photography: Mikalaj Packajeu