Men vs Fathers

“Recently, I have been thinking a lot about fathers.Fathers as figures, fathers as biology, fathers as disease.My recent obsessions though do not revolve around pure theory. They go hand in hand with a new step taken as an adult: engaging for the first time with my partner in serious conversations about having kids. Our own. The reason why I cannot separate my utmost desire for children from theoretical reflections that go beyond the actual logistics (whether physical or mental) of raising children, is my life- long haunting relationship with my own father. Haunting but sleeping, except for three major moments of my life when it transformed into a crisis. The moment I left home at 18, the moment I got married, and the moment I started thinking about being a father. And the reason why I cannot think about my relationship with my own father without reflecting on humanity is a case study of the broader history of man, patriarchy, and adulthood. For this project, delving into old family archives, reflecting on them and physically confronting them with my current feelings is essential in my approach, as they are the sole memory keepers of an early attempt to connect with my father, a connection that never endured. I will also be using textures, materials and objects from my childhood and link them to my sentiments to create parallels between their evolution and the evolution of my relationship with my father. Objects and textures from my childhood have always evoked much more than just their nature. In fact, they have since then stood for feelings. For this project Men vs Fathers, I intend to finally shift my ‘aversion’ for some and tenderness for others by incorporating their growth into the project. Through this sensorial approach and by mixing different media,I am reclaiming the environment and memories of my childhood, while renewing my connection to my own father, and creating a new narrative of masculinity and fatherhood.”

Supported by Prix Photo Elysée