My #365LoveNotesToSelf project was selected this year [2022] to be exhibited in Tate’s staff biennale, themed “Love and Loss” which is scheduled 16-23 March 2022 in Tate Exchange – Level 5 at Tate Modern.
Note to Self: It’s that time of year again and maybe it’s the weather or maybe a condition of surviving the past two years… but I’m sure I’m not alone when I say, I am (again) in a deep blue funk. So this Valentine’s Day, I’ve decided to reiterate my #365LoveNotestoSelf project from 2017-2018 in which I attempted to alleviate a depressive episode by making a self-portrait every day for a year. The aim was, then as it is now, to give myself a loving gift: an envelope of time full of a kind of “love note to me”, by which I will remind myself daily of what love looks like – by gazing in a mirror and drawing what I see.
For in order to really see, one must make the time to look deeply.
I’ve chosen to create self-portraits (instead of, say, making selfies on my iPhone) because in these creative sessions, I must really look in order to draw what’s looking back at me…and maybe, after another 365 of these love notes in a row, it will become easier day-by-day to see through any of the dark days with a dose of self-love, with positivity, confidence, and joy.
For the “Love and Loss” exhibition at Tate, my intention is to share a new self-portrait every day in keeping with my daily online visual journal of sorts on Instagram: @kelisefranclemont. So who knows how I’ll be feeling on the day!
Exhibition Details:
Tate Modern
Level 5, Blavatnik BuildingBankside
London SE1 9TG
Dates and Times
16–23 March 2022 12.00 – 18.00
Free with All Tate Modern Collections Route ticket. Advance booking is recommended ​
More info and to book free tickets: https://www.tate.org.uk/whats-on/tate-modern/inside-job
More about the 2017-2018 project: https://kelisefranclemont.com/2017/02/14/365-days-of-love-notes-myself-to-me/
Dimensions of each original drawing, painting, or photograph varies from as small as several centimeters to 1.5 m.