About this Event
Opening Night - Friday NOV 1st
Will take place at XUUX ARTISTS 455 Horton St E, London, ON N6B 1M2
5:00pm to 11:00pm
Artist Statement
Culturally we don’t like thinking about disease and death even though it is an inescapable part of life.
Within eight months my parents went from living mostly independently to needing 24/7 professional care. Mom, with vascular dementia, moved into a long-term care facility in December. Dad, in the final stages of Parkinson’s, passed away in hospital March 25, 2024.
I tried to honour them in their last weeks and months by highlighting their humanity in this, their darkest hours.
My dad and mom had a lifetime of stories to tell, and through their portraits we see nuances of their character — not just their psychosis and dementia.
The portraits of my dad speak to a man who is physically strong, stubborn, inventive and brave — all traits he’s had his entire life. The portraits of my mother show an elegant woman who loves beautiful things like flowers and jewels, but is still trying to kick her smoking habit after 65 years.
I inadvertently started this project as a way to shield myself from their crisis, when in fact, it ripped me open and softened my heart for them. Unintentionally, their parting gift to me was allowing, even encouraging, me to witness them at their worst. And my parting gift to them was my promise to not look away in shame when things got ugly.
Everyone has a story to tell and a right to tell it no matter their state of mind. My hope is that through this project I will be able to remind us of the humanity we all share, regardless of our age or diagnosis.
Meet Claire Dam
Claire Dam is a conceptual photographer with over a decade’s worth of experience shooting professionally in both digital and analogue formats. Her vision and focus come from exploring the rawness and vulnerability of life and death, joy and grief. Her aim is to give imagery to and normalize traditionally hidden experiences and emotions. She lives on a small multigenerational farm in rural Hamilton, Ontario.
Event Venue & Nearby Stays
All Things Film, 520 Adelaide St N, London, Canada
CAD 0.00
