side by each
It’s an odd feeling to go through the belongings of someone who is still alive, and to be surrounded by a lack of sentimentality while doing so. While I understand that sentimentality does not often correlate with practicality, the dignity of the objects’ owner should still be put in foremost consideration.
I’ve taken to collating still life shots of objects my grandmother left in her house. I know that she, to at least some degree, no longer remembers those objects are or were hers. But in a way, I’m not sure they’re lost from here.
In my biweekly meeting with Prof Cynthia Fowler for an art history directed study, we discussed this practice that I’ve taken and where it may factor into my overall thesis - written, visually, audio, physical. From this, I’ve chosen to experiment with diptych presentations of objects that are/were my grandmother’s paired with photographs from her albums. My intention here is not to create a perfect match - intentional disharmony may not be the correct term here, but it feels right. The aim in these pairings is more emotional that concrete - the state of emotion presented in my grandmother’s photographs, coupled with the emotional resonance of the objects she has left behind.
