© 2025
© 2025
The thing to remember
(2021)
NARRATIVE INTRODUCTION
My practice emerged from a need to cope with feelings of deep loneliness and loss when I moved abroad during lockdown, following the unexpected death of my father.
I had a difficult relationship with him—more precisely, with the person he became after years of drinking.
For the last couple of years of his life, I was the only person he could rely on. Our roles reversed as I became his caretaker, helping him through rehabilitation and looking after him.
Three months before he died, he called me at night, in a state of alcoholic delirium, asking me to return to my hometown to help him. He said he was afraid he might die. I went the next morning, and it was the last time I saw him—embarrassed, exhausted, and full of shame and guilt.
I tried to cope with this loss by recreating memories of him as a fun, loving, generous father—perhaps the father he had never been for me. I created a series of still lifes of the brightest moments with my dad, from my childhood, freed from the shadow of his addiction, and photographed them. I called this project The Thing to Remember.
*Hover over/press on the pictures to see their descriptions
NARRATIVE INTRODUCTION
My practice emerged from a need to cope with feelings of deep loneliness and loss when I moved abroad during lockdown, following the unexpected death of my father.
I had a difficult relationship with him—more precisely, with the person he became after years of drinking.
For the last couple of years of his life, I was the only person he could rely on. Our roles reversed as I became his caretaker, helping him through rehabilitation and looking after him.
Three months before he died, he called me at night, in a state of alcoholic delirium, asking me to return to my hometown to help him. He said he was afraid he might die. I went the next morning, and it was the last time I saw him—embarrassed, exhausted, and full of shame and guilt.
I tried to cope with this loss by recreating memories of him as a fun, loving, generous father—perhaps the father he had never been for me. I created a series of still lifes of the brightest moments with my dad, from my childhood, freed from the shadow of his addiction, and photographed them. I called this project The Thing to Remember.
My dad grew peonies and other flowers. At the end of the school year, he’d give me peonies for my teacher
My dad grew peonies and other flowers. At the end of the school year, he’d give me peonies for my teacher
White was his favorite color. He loved warm seasons, enjoying his all-white outfits, which he called ‘festive’ as they reflected his good mood
Dad taught me how to play chess. I wasn’t very good, but he often let me win. Whenever I took too long to make a move, he would act as if I had just made a brilliant play that completely ruined his strategy
White was his favorite color. He loved warm seasons, enjoying his all-white outfits, which he called ‘festive’ as they reflected his good mood
White was his favorite color. He loved warm seasons, enjoying his all-white outfits, which he called ‘festive’ as they reflected his good mood
Dad taught me how to play chess. I wasn’t very good, but he often let me win. Whenever I took too long to make a move, he would act as if I had just made a brilliant play that completely ruined his strategy
White was his favorite color. He loved warm seasons, enjoying his all-white outfits, which he called ‘festive’ as they reflected his good mood
White was his favorite color. He loved warm seasons, enjoying his all-white outfits, which he called ‘festive’ as they reflected his good mood
Dad taught me how to play chess. I wasn’t very good, but he often let me win. Whenever I took too long to make a move, he would act as if I had just made a brilliant play that completely ruined his strategy
White was his favorite color. He loved warm seasons, enjoying his all-white outfits, which he called ‘festive’ as they reflected his good mood
Dad loved dance music, especially CC Catch and Modern Talking. A crystal chandelier hung in the middle of his room. When we played disco, I imagined it was a disco ball
Dad loved dance music, especially CC Catch and Modern Talking. A crystal chandelier hung in the middle of his room. When we played disco, I imagined it was a disco ball
Dad had a huge garden with apples and pears and made homemade juice from them. Some years, there was so much fruit that it fell to the ground and squashed. I remember the smell of overripe fruit and wasps swarming around
My dad grew peonies and other flowers. At the end of the school year, he’d give me peonies for my teacher
My dad grew peonies and other flowers. At the end of the school year, he’d give me peonies for my teacher
Dad had a huge garden with apples and pears and made homemade juice from them. Some years, there was so much fruit that it fell to the ground and squashed. I remember the smell of overripe fruit and wasps swarming around
My dad grew peonies and other flowers. At the end of the school year, he’d give me peonies for my teacher
My dad grew peonies and other flowers. At the end of the school year, he’d give me peonies for my teacher
Dad had a huge garden with apples and pears and made homemade juice from them. Some years, there was so much fruit that it fell to the ground and squashed. I remember the smell of overripe fruit and wasps swarming around
My dad grew peonies and other flowers. At the end of the school year, he’d give me peonies for my teacher
My dad grew peonies and other flowers. At the end of the school year, he’d give me peonies for my teacher
White was his favorite color. He loved warm seasons, enjoying his all-white outfits, which he called ‘festive’ as they reflected his good mood
Dad taught me how to play chess. I wasn’t very good, but he often let me win. Whenever I took too long to make a move, he would act as if I had just made a brilliant play that completely ruined his strategy
Dad loved dance music, especially CC Catch and Modern Talking. A crystal chandelier hung in the middle of his room. When we played disco, I imagined it was a disco ball
When Dad visited, he brought homemade sunflower seeds, roasted and salted himself.
I loved watching TV at his place—he had a special jar for shells, so we could eat in bed.
I wanted to be an adult just to have my own shell jar
INSTALLATION SHOTS
For the exhibition, I made postcards with descriptions and sent them to the other participating artists. I also added a glass jar filled with sunflower seeds for a tactile experience.
