Rachel Kohn
Beauty in Decay
Watercolor and ink on paper
Artist Statement
My work is influenced by patterns in nature that symbolize growth and decay. When my father was diagnosed with kidney cancer, I witnessed him endure numerous surgeries and experimental treatments that inflicted severe side effects. Despite these treatments, we managed to spend five years together beyond his original prognosis. I am eternally grateful for that time, but it was incredibly difficult to see him in such immense pain. Shortly after his passing, my mother was diagnosed with ovarian cancer.
Again, we were told that treatments would only prolong her life. That time was beautiful, but it was excruciating to watch my mother deteriorate. During this period, I embarked on a journey to find beauty in decay. Through daily walks and meditations, I sought patterns in nature that resonated with me. I no longer wanted to focus on death in my work, but rather on the cyclical nature of life, the changing of the seasons, and the cycles of decay and renewal.
52 Views of Cancer
52 Views of Cancer is a deck of playing cards illustrated by people who know cancer firsthand. Each of the 52 cards carries original artwork by a different cancer patient, survivor, or immediate family member, each with their own view of the disease.
The artwork comes first. We're bringing the deck to major scientific and medical conferences and putting these artists' work directly into the hands of the researchers and clinicians working on the cancers they've faced.
Learn more about Invenra’s efforts to fight cancer.
