Precious – Objects of Remembrance
After death, material possessions outlive the mortal being. The ‘props’ of a lifetime that remain after someone departs the world can embody significant imprints of memory for the bereaved. Such treasured objects help to fill the emotional void and may bridge the distance between the living and the dead. Precious – Objects of Remembrance is a project on material culture and the sentimental value of things as an exploration of memory, identity, and loss.
Following my mother’s death—when I was still very young—my father kept all of her clothes up to the present. From time to time, my sister and I sort through the attic and find a keepsake that we like. Wearing something that once belonged to her, in some sense, brings me closer to my mum.
Julia
My Mother’s Pullover
As my father was bald, he wore the hat to keep his head warm. Every time I see my mum she comments on how I look more like my father. Now, I feel I should wear his hat in the British weather.
Jeremy
My Father’s Flap Cap
This landscape painting occupies a special place in my late partner’s room. For him, it represented an object of meditation in whose presence he always found calmness. Eventually, I took the painting to the hospice, where, through the remaining time, it accompanied and comforted him.
Sigrid
My Partner’s Painting
I found this letter in the pocket of my father’s suit jacket. The day he died, he had gone to a birthday celebration and had prepared a speech that sadly he was not able to share anymore. So, in a way, these are my father’s last unspoken words.
Andrea
My Father’s Letter
This wooden table has accompanied me all of my life. During my childhood, it was reserved for the proper Sunday lunch—the cherished time of the week when the family came together as one. Later, I had the table and its four matching chairs refurbished and turned it into an integral part of my own house.
Johannes
My Mother’s Table
This classic top hat was tailor-made for my father in the thirties. On the inside, it shows his initials. Of course, it was meant for special occasions, as he wore it, initially, on his wedding with my mother. I still keep the hat in its proper box.
Inge
My Father’s Top Hat
My father was a passionate tea drinker—just like me. Every morning, he used the stoneware pot to brew his black tea. Since my mother had to leave early for the office, my dad used to have breakfast with my sister and me. We always enjoyed this quality time together very much.
Astrid
My Father’s Tea Pot