Robin
Amy Izat
These two images show detailed hyper-realistic drawings of robins. The top image shows a robin facing the left, perched on a tree-stump. The second shows a robin who is facing right but has turned its head to the left. Also perched on a tree stump. In both images, the left and lower side of the robins’ bodies have been erased to represent the area of her vision that Amy no longer sees when she looks directly into the birds’ eyes. In this area there is a faint impression of the original drawing.
Inspiration behind the artwork
My grandad’s spirit appeared by my hospital bed one day in the HDU. I tried to reach out and take his hand, to get him to take me away from the pain and hell I was going through. He would not let me take his hand, and instead he stood there until I began fighting again.
According to Christian beliefs, the robin plucks a thorn from Christ’s crown and ends up piercing its breast. The little robin sees Jesus on the cross with his crown of thorns and flies around and around until he finds a way to remove one of them. By removing that thorn, the little bird gets pierced himself.
Like my parents did during my time in hospital, each of us should try and be that little robin. When we see someone in pain, we must ask ourselves: ‘What can I do to give them comfort? What can I do to help them see the light?’
When I returned home from hospital, I spent time outside in the garden. I encountered robins continuously, and their presence filled me with the knowledge that by trusting in something greater, like my grandfather appearing when I needed the strength to continue, and by trusting those closest to me to stay by my side until I no longer need them, I could trust that everything was going to be okay.