The essence of my father was as complex and profound as the stories he wove and the poetry he imparted. I recall my teenage years with a certain nostalgia, when he would discreetly place books of poetry on my bed or embellish our walls with printed excerpts—his understated means of nurturing our spirits.
After the loss of my mother, he embarked on a selfless mission to contribute to society, relocating to a distant region with a singular aim: to uplift the lives of children and women. The devastating news of his demise, at the hands of mercenaries employed by the very adversaries he sought to combat, shattered our world.
This series of images endeavors to capture the essence of the principles that guided him and the weight of the choices we make. The initial five photographs pay tribute to my father's Slovenian roots, portraying the verdant landscapes and cultural richness that molded his spirit. These images provide a poignant context for his journey. The subsequent four images, taken merely a day after his untimely death, document his final moments on earth, each frame imbued with the somberness of loss and the enduring strength of his legacy.
This body of work reflects on the principles we uphold and the decisions we navigate, offering a meditation on the intersections of personal conviction and fate.
This body of work is part of the Joaquim Paiva collection, currently with the Museum of Modern Art of Rio de Janeiro
Dimensions: 50 x 65cm / 20 x 25 inches
Silver emulsion painted over cotton rag paper