forget-me-not

Taking almost 2 years and a total of over 5 million embroidery stitches to create, “forget-me-not” is uou.label's most ambitious series to date.

Inspired by his late grandmother's battle with Alzheimer's disease, the six-part embroidery series focuses on a bed of forget-me-not flowers as they progressively wilt, break apart, and disappear to re-form fully bloomed again at peace as her memory.

uou. also interprets the life cycle of a forget-me-not flower as a metaphor for experiencing and embracing change in life.

- " It was originally inspired by my grandmother, who suffered from Alzheimer's disease, and as a child perceiving her losing touch with reality, it will always be about that, as I picture her at peace now.. But whilst creating the series, I found it took on a more personal meaning of self re-discovery and understanding how we all change as people throughout our lives.
To me, the flowers that rebloom as a memory at the end of the series end up now representing entering a new phase in life which is how I like to think is the same for my grandmother. "

Accompanying the release of 'forget-me-not' brings the release of the sister series 'not-forgotten', a progression of 'forget-me-not' and homage to embracing life's lessons and memories of passed loved ones, of which there will be over 20 works on display and available for purchase.

uou.label's "forget-me-not" exhibition opening night is at 7pm on the 22nd of November and the exhibition runs until the 20th of December at Maggies cafe, Dunedin.

Dedicated to and in loving memory of Hilda de Silva.