/həʊvælbɑːkiː/ He Remains

"He Remains" is a phrase deeply rooted in our religious and cultural beliefs, used during profound moments of losing a loved one, signifying that while nothing is truly immortal except the creator, the essence of those we cherish endures beyond their physical departure. This concept became a heartbreaking reality for me when I lost my father unexpectedly. His presence in my life was replaced by a significant void as life inevitably moved on. But is he really gone?

In the weeks after his passing, as my mother began to sort through his personal belongings, I found myself documenting this process through the lens of his own camera. This camera now served as a memento of his legacy. My approach was unpretentious; I aimed to capture the essence of these moments with a simplicity that reflected his character and way of life.

As we parted with many of his belongings, sending them off on journeys to distant places, I wondered if he was truly gone. I realised that the answer lay in the memories that endure. No one is ever really forgotten; they live on through the recollections we cherish and the stories we keep telling. He remains with us.

I chose to express this journey through analogue photography, using expired Fujicolor 200 film, a medium familiar to me and suitable for its purpose. The aged film creates a natural fading effect at the edges of the photographs, reflecting the gradual fading of memories over time. However, at the centre of each image remains a clear and vivid memory, a testament to my father's enduring presence in my heart.

This series of photographs, unaltered by digital manipulation, reflects the natural outcome of developing expired films. It serves as a metaphor for how memories can fade and blend into the image we hold of our past, with certain moments remaining vivid and unchangeable. He indeed remains, through the legacy of memories that will endure as long as we cherish them.