Echoes of Absence explores the somatic experience of losing a father through a series of large-scale, multi-sensory works. Hollie Anderson, Mckenna Goade, and Brittney Weiland engage in psychic automatism, a surrealist technique that involves allowing the unconscious mind to guide the artistic process, and ideas of somatic processing—the use of the body as a tool for healing—as a way to explore the complex and often painful emotions that come with the loss of a parent.

Drawing on their individual experiences with the loss of their fathers, the pieces in this show seek to simultaneously overwhelm and ground the viewers in the intense emotions of these final moments. The interdisciplinary and multi-sensory nature of these works involve the use of video projection, and audio recordings to create a fully immersive experience. The bold colors and unplanned compositions of the works serve to further heighten the emotional impact on the viewer.

Through the act of creating these works, the artists physically engage with grief and attempt to move it through their hands and onto the surfaces. This process serves as a form of catharsis, allowing them to process and express their emotions in a safe space. The finished works invite the viewer to engage with the emotions of loss and grief in a similar way, providing a space for contemplation and reflection on the fleeting nature of life.