Erin Tang

In my series I use water to express grief, and reflect on joyous memories to show the duality of my Ma Ma’s (grandma’s) passing. Initially, I thought that I’d be trapped in that painful moment forever: a state of emptiness and longing, as well as one of fear that my memories would fade with her. What helped me during this time were my friends and family who listened, gave me time to grieve, and the courage to create something in her honor. I wanted my series to show both sides of the situation: a way to commemorate my favorite memories of her while also depicting the pain of the healing process.

I developed concepts for my series by looking at photographs of my Ma Ma and I together. Seeing them allowed me to experience a renewed love and joy as I rekindled my fleeting memories. This inspired me to combine the past and present as a way for me to reconnect with her. The fluid property of water created barriers and bridges between subjects while also acting as a visible forum for the emotions deep inside me. As time goes on, the series parallels how the feelings of grief could’ve drowned me, but were later guided in a better direction by those closest to me.