Since 1999, I have been photographing my family, mostly my father, in private and often isolated moments. My father has often prioritized the enrichment of his inner-world over anything else and now that he is retired he spends most of his time collecting music, listening to music, reading and writing. Not going out much, and spending more time in the house alone, the more disconnected and isolated he becomes, as well as isolating the other members of the family. The portraits of my mother show her escape is into nature, where her profession and passion brings her.

I am interested in exploring my father’s inner world and his connection to music, to his house, as well as our relationship as father and daughter. Though my father isolates himself from others, I personally feel very close to him and am attracted to his eccentric and artistic mentality. He has taught me to value art, sincerity, and pursue my own vision. I want to capture the timeless feeling of his surroundings, the limitlessness of his obsession for collecting music as well as his deep pleasure in it. I feel that many of my portraits of him are self-portraits.

In most of the images natural light illuminates the subject and darkness fills the surrounding space. I choose this kind of light because it reminds me of the paintings of Caravaggio, who transformed ordinary moments into divine ones by his use of light and shadow. This light also has an ominous and timeless quality, which is another reason why I use it; the thought of my parent’s death has been a motivation for me to photograph them.

Although each of these images has specific meaning for me, I strive to go beyond what is just personal to what is also emblematic of all people deeply connecting and disconnecting with their family.


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