“And it is strange that absence can feel like presence.” – Ally Condie, Crossed
Photography has become a popular therapeutic activity for many people, including myself. My parents separated when I was just three years old, and this created a void in my life that I could not fill. Since my father lived elsewhere, I only saw him once a year, and I always wished we had more time together. Sadly, this is a common scenario today, where families are often separated due to work, migration, or other reasons.
Through photography, I found comfort and a way to deal with my emotions and challenges. Inspired by the Egyptian photographer Heba Khalifa, I decided to document my life through personal storytelling and photography. This project led me to revisit my childhood home after 25 years and write a heartfelt letter to my father, expressing all my emotions. It was a powerful experience that helped me heal and close a chapter in my life. Today, where challenges can make it difficult to connect with loved ones, photography can be a powerful tool to help us express our emotions and heal.
During this journey, I had to revisit my childhood home multiple times to document my experience. The first time around, I reconnected with my house and memories. Later, I returned to capture and discover new angles to photograph and document. The Saudi photographer Tasneem Al Sultan suggested that I continue my writing journey, not only to my father but also to write about my experience and emotions of my past life within the photos. Artists like Geloy Concepcion, Lina Geoushy, Amina Kadous, and Diana Markosian inspired me to research and learn through their lenses. This pushed me to delve deeper into myself to heal old wounds.
After researching and studying, I began to write my thoughts on my journey as I went along my childhood house. This project is called "The Red Slide" because I specifically remember this red slide from my childhood and how my family was together 25 years ago. I allowed my gut to lead me through the experience.
Year 2023
