While pursuing a career in textile and fashion design, Kaylin Andres was diagnosed with Ewings Sarcoma, a rare bone cancer. Since then she has battled numerous reoccurrences, undergone countless rounds of radiation, chemotherapy and surgeries, and is now considered terminal.
Update: This article contains excerpts from a press release received from the Jenn Singer Gallery and was published on May 24, 2016. Kaylin Andres died on November 21, 2016 in NYC.
Andres transitioned from fashion to visual art, and has worked with notable fashion designers such as Betsey Johnson and Rachel Antonoff. She also collaborates with visual artists in NYC. Her background in fashion design helps inform her visual art work, which combines photography with textiles, embroideries with hair lost from the side effects of chemotherapy and handmade reliquaries inspired by her own spiritual journey of healing and survival.
HER BLOG TITLED “CANCER IS HILARIOUS”
While battling her own terminal illness, Andres has advocated for young adults with cancer. She maintains a blog, Cancer is Hilarious, where she has documented her battles with cancer with honesty and sarcasm. The artist, who is now 31 years old, states, “This is an attempt to document my process and provide inspiration for other twenty-somethings who refuse to go the way of headscarves and hospital gowns. I mean, really? Cancer is fucking hilarious.” She invites her followers to join her on Instagram @kaylinandres.
KAYLIN ANDRES – “VIATICUM” EXHIBITION
A one-person exhibition of Kaylin Andres’ work is taking place at Jenn Singer Gallery, 72 Irving Place, New York, NY, from June 4 – June 30, 2016. There will be a public opening reception on Saturday, June 4, 5-8 PM. The exhibition is co-curated by Ricardo Kugelmas.
Andres’ series of self-portraits in “VIATICUM” are from her pilgrimage to Brazil to see the renowned Spiritist medium Joao de Deus or “John of God”. This work reflects her fascination with the connection between art and birth, and the physical and spiritual worlds.
The faith healer Joao de Deus is known to conjure the spirits of the greatest doctors throughout history to perform psychic medical miracles. Kaylin Andres was, and still is, in need of a miracle. Her journey to Brazil was as much about finding hope as it was about finding a cure.This exhibition is the same. It gives Andres hope and encourages her to continue her journey and serves as a fundraiser to help support her as she does.
As we know art serves as a catalyst for healing. The creation of the work in the exhibition is Kaylin Andres’ own viaticum—sustenance for the spirit, fuel to keep going regardless of her prognosis. Andres believes to make art is to take from one’s inner world and make it material—to give it life in the physical realm.
MORE ABOUT KAYLIN ANDRES
Kaylin Andres received her BFA at California College of the Arts in 2010. She has been featured on NPR’s The Takeaway, BBC Radio, MTV, The Huffington Post, and Planet Cancer. In her previous exhibition in 2014, Chemosynthesis, Andres explored themes of Vanitas and the transformative properties of illness. Her journey as a young adult with cancer is chronicled on the MTV series World of Jenks, and in her colorful graphic novel Terminally Illin’, published by Last Gasp.
ABOUT VIATICUM
Viaticum is the receiving of the Eucharist before death–the last rites. Pagans, predating Christianity, would place a coin in the mouths of the deceased as a toll for the underworld. Nineteenth century mediums displayed an emesis of cloth from various orifices, known as ectoplasm—the physical manifestation of the soul.
Many mediums used methods of swallowing and regurgitating cheesecloth, textile products smoothed with potato starch and in other cases the ectoplasm was made from paper, cloth and egg white or butter muslin.
Andres’ work captures this manifestation in her ethereal portraits on organza.
ABOUT THE JENN SINGER GALLERY
Jenn Singer Gallery’s diverse program features emerging and mid-career contemporary artists, as well as a selection of artworks by established post-war modern artists. Recent exhibitions have been featured in Wallpaper*, Cultured Magazine, VICE – The Creator’s Project, The Huffington Post, and Hi-Fructose, among others. The gallery is located in New York City’s historic Gramercy Park neighborhood.
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Kaylin is my step-daughter. We were at her opening last weekend. Lovely show. Small world that you featured this, Renee. Thank you for sharing.
Thank you for this article. I have read it several times over now. Kaylin is my niece. I am so proud of her, as is the entire family. Her accomplishments and the way she continues to LIVE through her struggles is nothing short of miraculous.
Heartbreaking story and also full of love for live. Beautifull written. Renee