My mother. May, 2009 Houston, TX
Carina, and I
Carina, and I
This series of photographs reflects on the relationship that my mother and I share. Through the use of composition and light, my goal is to provide the viewer with a slice of intimacy that exists between subject and photographer – in this case, mother and son.
After my birth, my mother, despite all the inclining suggestions of her close friends and family to have another child, decidedly refused ascribing her decision to the mere fear of not being able to love her first child as much as her second. Her friends and family labeled her decision as irrational nevertheless her ruling was final.
I remember our walks to and from kindergarten. Back then I always called her by her first name – Carina, she never objected, and actually found it to be humorous. I always thought that she was the most beautiful woman in the world – fashionable, dramatic and elegant in both style and personality. When she would sit and hurriedly apply makeup, before attending a party to which was already late to, I would insist on handing her all the make up products she needed. When she would sketch fashion designs for her clients, I would sketch with her, sharing my sketches with her afterwards. As I got older we spent less time with each other.
Now I am twenty-nine years old, and my mother is twenty-nine years older. I photograph her because she still is my greatest inspiration, and I believe that she always will be. This series is essentially a work-in-progress about a work-in-progress that will ultimately end when one of us dies. As children we prepare for the departure of our parents, this project in a sense is my preparation, my embrace – a continually ongoing documentary sustained by the unconditional love that my mother and I share.
-DY
After my birth, my mother, despite all the inclining suggestions of her close friends and family to have another child, decidedly refused ascribing her decision to the mere fear of not being able to love her first child as much as her second. Her friends and family labeled her decision as irrational nevertheless her ruling was final.
I remember our walks to and from kindergarten. Back then I always called her by her first name – Carina, she never objected, and actually found it to be humorous. I always thought that she was the most beautiful woman in the world – fashionable, dramatic and elegant in both style and personality. When she would sit and hurriedly apply makeup, before attending a party to which was already late to, I would insist on handing her all the make up products she needed. When she would sketch fashion designs for her clients, I would sketch with her, sharing my sketches with her afterwards. As I got older we spent less time with each other.
Now I am twenty-nine years old, and my mother is twenty-nine years older. I photograph her because she still is my greatest inspiration, and I believe that she always will be. This series is essentially a work-in-progress about a work-in-progress that will ultimately end when one of us dies. As children we prepare for the departure of our parents, this project in a sense is my preparation, my embrace – a continually ongoing documentary sustained by the unconditional love that my mother and I share.
-DY