absent presencetransitional objects of grief

When does holding on become self-destructive?
Moving image works which explore aspects of loss through the idea of a visual lament. The laments find voice in a wide range of feelings from melancholy, shock, exhaustion and anger to an overwhelming sense of grief, where there is always a poignant sense of absent presence.

piano series: Meno Mosso
piano series: piano
piano series: now he is gone

my Mother and Me
/ˌpɛrɪˈmɛnəpɔːz/
one hand washes the other

stabat mater
Sometimes referred to as ‘transitional objects of grief’, inherited objects including collections and an upright piano, have become subjects, persistent characters both positive and negative in moving image and performed acts, sound recording, photography, text and drawing.

Each lament explores the emotions these objects bring, from hurt, guilt to self-judgement and shame; there presence brings an insistent dichotomy between preserving a memory or moving on. When does holding on become self-destructive?

© Sophie Standford, 2025
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