It's a (Healing) Process
an experimental online sharing
by Chris Auret
since 23 June 2020
INVITATION:
Take your time here, as though you are walking through a spacious, physical gallery, allowing moments to pause and reflect.
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As a special feature of this unique expression, almost every piece has a PROCESS / REFLECTION
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There are over 52 pieces on one page. If it feels overwhelming, I suggest you play a game of random scrolling or visit again at any time.
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The best sound will be experienced through speakers or headphones.
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It is best viewed on larger screens for zoom capabilities, although a phone will do just fine.
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You are welcome to light a candle or burn some incense - whatever you may choose to create a sacred atmosphere wherever you are.

WAYS TO SHOW YOUR SUPPORT:

CHAPTER 1
Open Wounded Ground
Body of 7 collage & mixed media pieces
These pieces make up a selection from my first ASTAR art process, which took place from January to March 2019. The course was a gift from my friends and family for my birthday. In this term, we were using the element of Earth as a portal to explore aspects of ourselves and our relationship to this element.
CLICK ON THE IMAGES TO ZOOM IN / ENLARGE

Open Wounded Ground (2019)
Charcoal on Paper, *Astar Process
515mm x 635mm
R3500
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Head, Heart & Stomach (2019)
Mixed Media Collage with Own Photographs on Paper, *Astar Process
250mm x 390mm
R1200
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The Weight of Reflection (2019)
Mixed Media Collage with Own Photographs on Paper, *Astar Process
235mm x 510mm
R1500
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The Heartist (2019)
Mixed Media Collage with Found Images on Paper, *Astar Process
320mm x 510mm
R1500
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High Flying Bridgework (2019)
Mixed Media Collage with Found Images on Paper, *Astar Process
320mm x 510mm
R1500
High Flying Bridgework -
Who are you?
In bold defiance of gravity,
Daring Guardians of the Heights,
"Heaven's right here on earth"
Fallen
In the Path of Destruction
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Submerge to Emerge (2019)
Mixed Media Collage with Own & Found Images on Paper, *Astar Process
320mm x 510mm
R1500
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Intercepting Eternity (2019)
Mixed Media Collage with Own Photographs on Paper, *Astar Process
149mm x 100mm
R900
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CHAPTER 2
Willpower
Body of 11 Collage & Mixed Media Pieces & 1 Film & Sound Element
At least half of these works were created during my second term with ASTAR, now working with the element of Water. It was during this process and a visit to the Garden Route, that an invocation, prayer or poem emerged through me, titled Willpower. This piece of writing became an inspiring force threading through my life at the time. Through Lindy's guidance, I decided to take each phrase and give it it's own visual representation, breaking it into 11 parts. Upon completion, I have explored animating these artworks and combining my own sound, which has resulted in the raw film exploration below. I still feel it is a sketch of a medium I will be going deeper into, open to collaborations with animators, sound masons and film makers.
Artworks: Mixed media & found images (mostly from National Geographic magazines. I do not take credit for the images themselves but feel I have changed their context substantially)
Film: Recordings of my screen in Photoshop when viewing photographed works
Sound: Music is a live score, recorded by myself, while watching the film
Narration: One live raw recording on my phone, layered on top of film and sound
CLICK ON THE IMAGES TO ZOOM IN / ENLARGE
WATCH FILM IN FULL SCREEN IF POSSIBLE
Willpower - a short film sketch by Chris Auret

Willpower, I call on you.
Be with me as I go back, down and inwards
(2019)
Mixed Media Collage with Own & Found Images, *Astar Process
230mm x 230mm
R2000
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As I swim to the depths of this dark river,
as I greet death, surrounded by onlooking baboons,
beneath rocks of defecation
(2019)
Mixed Media Collage with Found Images, *Astar Process
230mm x 230mm
R2000
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May my last breath fill my lungs with trust
(2019)
Mixed Media Collage with Found Images, *Astar Inspired Process
210mm x 510mm
R2000
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Keep me warm on the icy waters of isolation,
As I make my way back to the ocean of conscious actions
(2019)
Mixed Media Collage with Found Images, *Astar Process
230mm x 290mm
R2000
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Smudge me clean of my fears
(2019)
Mixed Media Collage with Found Images & Thread, *Astar Process
230mm x 230mm
R2000
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Connect me to that which I have forgotten
(2019)
Collage with Found Images, *Astar Inspired Process
230mm x 230mm
R2000
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Teach me the language to share my experience with this world
(2019)
Mixed Media Collage with Found Images, *Astar Inspired Process
230mm x 230mm
R2000
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Allow me to remain awake in this vigil
Let me fall, not asleep, but into unconditional love
(2019)
Mixed Media Collage with Found Images, *Astar Inspired Process
230mm x 230mm
R2000
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Suppress nothing as I sink
(2019)
Mixed Media Collage with Found Images, *Astar Process
230mm x 230mm
R2000
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Dissolve all that keeps me from serving myself,
in the service of others
(2019)
Mixed Media Collage with Found Images, *Astar Process
230mm x 230mm
R2000
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Find the fire within me
and feed it with responsibility
(2019)
Mixed Media Collage with Found Images, *Astar Inspired Process
230mm x 230mm
R2000
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CHAPTER 3
My Process (pre-lockdown)
Body of Collage & Mixed Media Pieces
During and after these 2 terms with ASTAR, I was inspired to continue holding myself in similar 3 hour art processes. Usually, I work with a theme I am personally exploring in that moment, such as trauma, nature, making art, my childhood, etc . These pieces came through between March 2019 and March 2020.
CLICK ON THE IMAGES TO ZOOM IN / ENLARGE

Skin (2019)
Mixed Media Collage with Found Images on Paper
297mm x 420mm
R1500
Cultures of the world;
under water, on land, in the air,
on white islands
or born in the mountains
of a no turning back:
Life (the really, really, big picture)
is not a tale of two worlds apart.
Dream time into the Earth.
To most people, flying.
To us, it is a body under reconstruction.
A man with a following
is still killing thousands of children everyday.
Never underestimate the importance of local knowledge.
That may be as good as it gets.
Alive - happily -
long ago to go,
an ancestor of the true capital of Hope.
Sincerely,
The Most Fitting End.
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Trauma (2019)
Mixed Media Collage with Found Images on Card
240mm x 375mm
R1200
A dream called lasting pain
Locates a buried past.
Waiting, it lurks.
It casts a spell to make me(we) stay asleep.
Invisible monsters inside the physical.
Temporary resevoirs
Last and last like a nightmare,
Until a victim
Gains a face
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Healing Visions of the Heart Through the Stomach (2019)
Mixed Media Collage with Found Images on Card
210mm x 297mm
R1200