Figuring me out
Kurt Cobain, from the grunge band Nirvana, played an integral role in my rebellious teenage years. Cobain’s profound influence on me during this crucial developmental stage initiated an investigation into his life. I found connections – highly meaningful to me at the time – between my father’s life and Cobain’s: the absolute horror of them both dying young, the era in which they lived, the fatal gunshot to the head, the daughter left behind.
The most significant difference to me was the intricate documentation of Cobain’s life and the fact that his thoughts, photos, journals, and even suicide note had all been published; indeed, twenty-four years after his death, media coverage of his life is still ongoing. Yet I am left empty-handed, with no trace of my father’s belongings or existence, always seeking to fill the void left by his absence. A book published with Cobain’s journal entries became the source for my creative process; I used the artist’s private thoughts as a medium through which to connect with my own pain and suffering.
