Cleo Grater
Photography
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When thinking about my previous work, a thought came to mind as to why most of my projects
revolved around one thing: family. Was it because it was most convenient for me? Or was I
afraid to pursue other subjects in order to achieve my vision for a body of work? Probably a little
of both. I realized that, I wanted to know more about where I came from, the lifestyle I was able
to have, and what struggles my parents had to endure in order to provide me with the life I have
today. This work is a reflection of my mother’s life and events that have transformed her into the
powerful woman she is today.
This work consists of photographs of significant locations in my mother’s life along with her
handwritten memories. My approach in capturing these locations digitally represents my
relationship with the subject in the present day and contrasts with the stories from my mother’s
past. Since I have uncovered so much, this work inspires me to dig deeper into her and my
father’s lives. I was able to discover more about her with these trips to a handful of places than I
had in my entire life. With that said, this work is just one part of a life-long project reflecting on
my parents’ journeys.