Home away, from home.
I experienced the passing of my grandmother to Alzheimer’s during the pandemic. Our relationship was sustained through screens… video calls, and voice messages. We often spoke about what we would do when she returned home from the nursing home (which she called “a temporary home”). She never made it home. What remained were a few digital files. I needed to ground memory, to translate what had become weightless and deferred into something tangible. After restrictions eased, I spent time in nursing homes and elderly residences. These transitional spaces half domestic, half institutional became sites where memory is carefully organised against forgetting through the belongings the residents kept. The work reflects my grandmother’s presence through proxy, giving weight to memory and care insisting on presence even in absence.

15 C types and 13 BW prints on a 300 x 180cm vinyl, film, post-it notes & SD memory card on passe-partout in a black wooden frame.

TRANSCRIPT:
(Auntie) Hold on a sec. Now ready, roll.
(Grandma) Can you hear me?
(Auntie) Louder.

(Grandma) Not sure what the time is over there. How are you?
It’s getting cold. Take care of your health. Soon I´ll be seeing your face.

(Grandma) Take care of your health. I’d like that very much. I trust you’ll go through it bravely.
How’s Coronavirus over there?
Take care. Take care. Take care.

(Grandma) I felt bad to see you having to spend your birthday alone from afar.
Coronavirus, don’t you dare going near. Well, you’re a big boy now.
Take care. Take care. Take care.

(Grandma) We’re all well here. One less to concern about. I heard you’re visiting soon.
Take care. Take care. Take care.

(Grandma) I heard you’re coming at some point. Stay well till then. So long. See you then.
Trust that we will see again. Until then, you take care.
Work hard and be a thoughtful person.

(Me) Grandma, who’s your favourite grandchild?

(Grandma) …I have no doubt you’ll do great.
…I trust you everything will be alright.

(Grandma) My favourite grandchild?
(Me) Yes, grandchild.
(Grandma) Who else could it be? You’re the one.

(Me) Hehe. Right? Me too.

(Grandma) …There’s only one.
(Me) Pardon?

(Grandma) There’s no one but you.
(Me) I am the one, right?

Special thanks to Lev & Anastasiia.

In loving memory of Teresa Yoon, the love of my life.
Forever with me, wherever I go.