lifecycles objects II

2018—present

It took more than a decade after my parents’ deaths to deal with the void in my heart. And, as the keeper of their things in my archive collection, I confronted how to handle that. It seemed logical to follow the first series with lifecycles objects II, thereby extending the concept that the act of photographing gives more tangibility to the physical objects. Furthermore, the psychological aspect of this collection encompasses my experience, memory, and emotion more immediately and in a contemporaneous way than the previous lifecycles objects series. I co-existed more fully with my parents than any other relatives represented in the archive.

The lens I use continues to document these personal family items and clarifies their meaning within a larger personal and cultural context. The photographs of items used, made or worn by my parents are of material things. The physical presence of the objects represents a particle of their personal history. This history might be explained as a story that places the object’s owner within a time and a place. In that way, the photographs also suggest unspoken narratives that add greater meaning to the objects.

The objects can also prompt speculation about the ideologies, lifestyles, or behaviors of the owners. The private nature of the object and its connection to a recognized cultural norm or context at times can be revealing. An obvious example is my father’s affinity for collecting and wearing western garments while constructing his public identity in the style of a cowboy.

Seen altogether, the photographs reference personal history, lifestyle choices, gender and relationships, family priorities, and white working-class identity in post WW II North America. Overall, the photographs of objects are references to my parents’ lived experiences.