for Grandpa

I have never enjoyed writing any explications on topics that simply arose from life. That is why I thought, I would like to present this series slightly differently.

Through this text, I would like to tell you a story. A story that recently happened in my life and inspired me to create these images I can proudly show to you.

Around mid-August, I received a call from my dad about my Grandpa, who had probably had one too many shots of slivovice one summer evening and fell in the yard, breaking his leg. They fixed his leg at the hospital, and soon, Grandpa could walk again. When I visited my grandpa, he was lively and told me about trips he was planning with my dad and about the soccer matches the boys from the nearby school were playing right outside the windows of his room. Grandpa was back home, and everything seemed as it should be.

However, things took a turn for the worse, and before long, Grandpa was back in the hospital for the second time. During that time, my Grandma, Grandpa’s wife, was living with my family, and I had an exceptional opportunity to talk to her about things like never before. In a bright moment, I asked Grandma, “Granny, why is Grandpa so grumpy?” Grandma replied that Grandpa refuses to accept that he’s old and that things just won’t get any better. That was just another drop in the bucket to undertake this project. The whole situation weighed heavily on me, and as it had helped me many times before, photography became a therapy for my problems.

The grandpa’s situation did not improve, and he slowly began to say goodbye to the whole family. Repeatedly, he was coming to me at night in my dreams and was speaking to me.

I have created a set of five photographs that represent Grandpa’s journey to places of peace and purity.

I start with Grandpa’s existence on this planet when he senses that he is approaching entry into other places. I move on to the photograph of the end of life itself, accompanied by the fear and anxiety that this situation brings with it. Then, I enter a state of calm and shed the burden, entering places where I hope Grandpa likes it.

I would like to dedicate this set to my deceased Great-grandfather.

I love you, Grandpa.