The Dowry

‘The Dowry’ project explores my family photo archive; it’s an examination of memory, family connections and the role we hold as witness to our past. In Italy the old tradition of the dowry refers to the practice of families giving their daughters linens and other household textiles at the time of marriage. The textiles were often custom made and the dowry was a symbol of status but also a reminder and a connection to the family of origin. In the project ‘The Dowry’ images of my parent’s early years together are transferred to vintage textiles through the cyanotype process and further toned using natural dyes such as green tea, giving the images the sepia color of the original prints. Through this alchemy, the fabrics that were originally used in the course of family life acquire new meaning. Blending the materiality of the fabric with the ephemeral nature of memory the dowry becomes the final inheritance after my parent's passing. The process also raises questions: who were my parents before I was born? How do relationships change in the course of a lifetime? How do we hold on to memories when our loved ones are gone? The Dowry becomes a cathartic process of mourning, remembrance and consolation.