K-OODI Magazine March 2016, Issue 4 | Page 96

JENNIFER TALBOT - featured artwork "Bowie" "Bowie. A true artist. A chameleon. Strikingly handsome. Tall and thin with a beautifully chiseled face. The shape and movement of his mouth, jaw and teeth I always found interestingly attractive. But I have always been drawn to the frontman, the performer, the showman. Impeccably dressed in suits which made him appear 10 feet tall. Always reinventing himself and discovering new ways to express himself creatively. Through dance, song, lyrics, costumes, makeup, acting, music videos and let's not forget his brilliant paintings. On that morning in January I woke up to a message on the screen of my iPhone... 'David Bowie, dead at 69.' My heart sank. I cried. I went downstairs to find that of all of my paintings hanging on my walls, his had fallen and was face down on my living room floor. I just stood there, still in tears, but smiled and said aloud to myself "wow, he really did go off to the other side." I immediately began to watch numerous videos of his performances... only to discover a sweet surprise I had never noticed before in all the years I watched him perform. I guess in years past I was intrigued by the costumes, the make up, the music, the lyrics... but that morning I studied again his face. The mouth I had always found so interestingly attractive. And what I saw was a genuine smile, which exuded happiness, with a hint of funny laughter behind it. And expression of joy... and something... it could've been the lyrics he was singing at the moment, the audience participation, the amazement of himself and his own brilliant work and success, interaction with a bandmate on stage, or the reflection of the happiness coming from the faces of his fans who adored him... sympathetic joy. Mudita. Mudita was what I saw that morning in his smile. What a gift. As I've embarked on my own journey as an artist and think back to how David Bowie influenced me over the years - and reflecting upon his passing - most especially after interpreting the scene in his video for 'Lazarus' where he seems to be hurriedly trying to get out all of his artistic thoughts and creations before it is too late - I feel for the first time in my life free to explore, to create, to take action and risks, to make choices, and to make my life my own with my art, which I believe is what Bowie always did. Thank you, Mr.Bowie, for sharing all of your beautiful gifts with this world. For not being afraid to show the world your true self and for inspiring artists like me to create, create, create before it's too late. Thank you for all that you have bestowed upon us, beautiful soul. Rest in sweet peace, Blackstar... I'm putting on my red shoes now... see you again and we'll dance the blues. www.jennifertalbot.pixels.com www.facebook.com/islandtimesstudios