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Alma Mater
Preserving the memories of my last living grandparent.
“Nonna” Teresa was born in 1932 and she is my only living grandparent. The aim of this project is to photograph my family’s roots and traditions before they disappeared, which felt like something I really owed to my grandmother. Following her everyday life, I experienced much more than roots and traditions – I got a glimpse of the person who hides behind the role of a grandmother. Nonna has always been the provider and the true centre of gravity in the family, but I realised that I have only ever known her as this strong matriarchal figure. I would only see her at family gatherings or after school for a snack and some TV-watching on her relaxing sofa. I never asked her how she felt, what she was like when she was young – and what about her dreams or her sorrows? What does she do when she is alone? What are her friends like and what do they do for fun? This project documents nonna’s role as a matriarch, carrying all of our traditions on her shoulders, and tries to dig deeper into her identity.