Good Goodbye emerged from the profound impact of witnessing the death of my grandfather. As we gathered around his bed, his eyes opened, and fixated on something invisible to everyone else. His gaze was unwavering, and his chest heaved with intensity, yet there was no fear in his expression. Moments later, he was gone. What had he been looking at? What thoughts had occupied his final moments? Could he sense the presence of his family around him? These painful inquiries remained unanswered, haunting my thoughts.

Good Goodbye became my means of coping with this loss and reconciling the space between comprehension and emotion. One evening, as I struggled to concentrate on studying, my thoughts drifted back to that indelible moment. Overwhelmed, I allowed my memories to guide my pencil and in that creative outpouring, I found a newfound sense of peace with the uncertainty of the afterlife.

The composition of the piece intentionally spotlights only my grandpa’s uplifted eyes, accentuating a subtle movement amidst a backdrop of abstraction. The surrounding faces utilize abstraction with asymmetrical eyes and intricate layering of black and white shapes, evoking emotions of instability and sorrow. The black background creates a somber feeling, while the white faces radiate forward. It successfully encapsulates the complex emotions of saying farewell to a loved one.