'Trash with Class' by Fazila Virmani

Artist: Fazila Virmani - Instagram :@fazzyart.creates Artwork©️: 'Trash With Class' Date: 23/11/2020 My 'trash with class' and a montage of what 2020 has felt like. Hoping 2021 get better soon In Sha Allah (God Willing) 🙏😔 - On the 23rd Nov, we had to do a pre-walk before a workshop, and really think about what we could see, hear, smell and feel whilst we took this walk. I could not help but notice all the trash that was surrounding the streets as I walked. I could not focus on much else, it was as though it was in my face. I remember feeling like crap too, so it was no wonder that my body was also picking up on the crap that was surrounding me. I decided to create little characters to mask the trash, so it would not look so potent. It made me realise how much of that I do on a daily too; masking away my emotions infront of others. The walk and this image are quite symbolic of how my feelings are currently. The pandemic and all the losses of loved ones may be one thing but the grief after losing my Dad has crippled me to another level. Yes I am an Art Psychotherapist and yes this is all very real, we also go through the same emotiones as anyone else. This is why we are able to empathise with clients and understand them better. My reflections on grief are daily, sometimes a battle between rational and irrational thoughts, self blame and regrets. There is no time frame for grief, you just somehow carry on fighting the negative thoughts and pulling through. I try and make art and journal my thoughts to be able to process those negative feelings. My battle with grief is my own, it is something I have not experienced before, it is very painful and hard, and the healing will take time. I am trying to allow myself to feel all of the thoughts and process them in my own time and in my own way; a year on and the battle continues.