A MEETING PLACE IN THE MIND

A Meeting Place in the Mind is about the relationship between my sister and me. It began as a collaboration that eventually dissolved, but I continued the project and shifted my vision, with her consent. Partway through this project, my sister was unable to be in front of the camera any longer. Despite the change in direction, I continue to share the unique relationship that bonds us. The few images that I have of her will always remain in this series. This is important because I have included other literal elements of her in the project, including her images of a traumatic brain injury. These visual elements are powerful representatives of the journey she continues to endure as she meets herself in her mind. Her sudden life-threatening experiences of a massive seizure, catastrophic stroke, brain surgery, and overall trauma have had a great effect on our relationship. Throughout this series, I aim to focus on the tension between us by using aspects and themes of duality exhibited in my portraits. My sister and I look similar, so the concept of presenting us through duality is meaningful. The major themes in this work focus on: experiencing struggle, accepting self-recovery, adapting to major life and mental health changes, and facing the ability to express feelings.