Tears of my Mother

The series is called "Tears of my Mother". The project consists of photographs taken on the territory of Angkor Wat (that symbolizes the Universe), which depict incense sticks on fallen leaves of a tree sacred to Cambodia. Each fallen leaf symbolizes a disaster or conflict that took place in the past, is taking place now, or will be in the future. Also, each leaf symbolizes the soul - of individual people who die in such conflicts. The series touches on both the global level and the extremely personal one. Each photograph has captions indicating specific dates and events, information about incidents and information about people. The series is based on the ideas of Khmer Buddhism, combined with the ideas of Manchu Buddhism. The incense was collected during the most important holiday in Cambodia - Pchum Ben, when the spirits of the departed return to Earth. This series is a documentation of the farewell of the spirits of the dead and their return Home, to the source and a prayer for their reincarnation in a new, peaceful life. It is also a documentation of conflicts and a prayer for peace. The title "Tears of my Mother" is taken from both the author's real life and is a metaphor where mother is our home, planet Earth.