"When you love someone, there's never a happy end to it"

Alive: In the Face of Death (Rankin)

Liverpool, July 6-8, 2013

Perhaps the most memorable experience of a weekend in Liverpool full of memorable experiences was Rankin's exhibition at the Walker Art Gallery.

I didn't even know it was on; we were in the Walker simply because we'll probably never go there again.

The bulk of the exhibition showed the results of a project to photograph people who know their life expectancy is limited (through cancer, congenital conditions, lung disease etc). Mostly these were people you'd see in everyday life; the only face I recognised was that of Wilko Johnson.

Accompanying the exhibition is a short video showing some of the subjects talking about why they took part, and with each portrait is a little text about the person.

Inevitably Rankin has captured some of the character and spirit of each of his sitters. I felt very sad thinking about these lives and coming deaths, but equally was humbled by the sitters' positivity and determination to take the rough with the smooth and live each day to the max, not letting their conditions define who they are.

The BBC2 Culture Show documentary about the project, broadcast last weekend, gave you a chance to know some of the subjects in greater depth and added extra meaning to the portraits.

Every person who spoke was a star.

Watching Louise Page pose for the camera, surrounded by lights, reflectors, crew ...and spontaneously cry - in the knowledge that she died shortly after the opening of the exhibition - was almost unbearable. We know the reason for her sadness - not for herself but for the loved ones being hurt by her illness. And what was the most poignant series of photos in the exhibition suddenly became personal.

The quote at the top of this blog is from Louise's partner, Al. His point being that, even though you know the ending (unless you are someone with delusions of immortality) nobody would knowingly turn from the enrichment that loving someone brings to your life.

Rankin said that he wanted people to be more aware of death, and one of his collaborators said something about spending 15 minutes a day thinking about it. Not a bad idea: to contemplate death you have to also notice life. Wilko Johnson spoke of his elation in stepping outside and seeing the vibrancy of the world after he was told he was dying.

It shouldn't take a death sentence for the rest of us to notice.