Stories of Home
The story that comes after “what now?”
Words by Trudy Darmanin
With all that is unfolding in the world right now, and the human suffering that’s brought to us raw in photographs of people fleeing for their lives, two thoughts always strike me harder than all the others when I’m scrolling through the news. I always wonder, firstly, “how are we programmed to do anything to survive, no matter how bad the situation?”. And secondly, “how do we adapt so quickly when everything we’re used to is turned on its head so suddenly?”
Recently, we’ve been working on a project that has also spotlighted the incredible human traits of resilience and adaptation to me, in the form of a photo essay called Stories of Home.
“What now”?
Stories of Home was conceived when Janette Marsh, previously working as a senior executive for international brands for over 35 years, was suddenly diagnosed with ovarian cancer. “What now?” she asked herself.
“What now?” could have been giving up, losing all purpose and letting go. But what’s really special about Janette is that her “what now?” was followed by a conversation with one of her dearest friends, who in turn contacted a photographer, and somehow evolved into Stories of Home.
Stories of Home follows Janette’s journey through acceptance, grief, coping and raising awareness, and ultimately funds, through her current condition. With Andrew Borg Wirth curating her experience and Marija Grech capturing it all in a 100+ page book, almost nothing I’ve encountered before speaks to me so loudly of what it is still to be human, and very human at that, in a turbulent time.
Janette; a storyteller
I can’t do justice to this story, because this is not my story. It is Janette’s, and she is currently telling it in three different events this month. This is not just a story about cancer, or sickness, or sterile hospital stays – it’s really about who we are as people, as fighting species who are resilient and adapt naturally to anything before us.
If you happen to be in Malta on one of the dates below, you’re invited to listen to her speak about her experience – and through working with her and her team, we can really promise you, you’ll carry it with you forever.
Stories of Home is curated by Andrew Borg Wirth with photography by Marija Grech.
Other stories
Virtual Virtuosity
Unburdened by the limitations of the real world, visionary concepts and fictional scenarios of architecture and design in virtual space, are explored in /imagine: A Journey into The New Virtual at MAK in Vienna, Austria.
The Lure of the Fantastical and the Unknown
Looking through Patricia Piccinini’s portfolio, is like stepping into wonderland; “curiouser and curiouser”, as Lewis Carroll famously wrote. Here, however, one won’t find any Mad Hatters, March Hares, hookah-smoking caterpillars perched on mushrooms, or White Rabbits donning a pocket-watch. This is a different kind of wonderland. One, which is strangely, yet decidedly, alluring.
Self-Dysmorphia in the Age of Filters
The age of social media has brought with it a new kind of self-dysmorphia – one that is fueled by the filters we use to present a perfected image of ourselves to the world. In the world of social media, the line between reality and illusion is blurred, and our perception of ourselves can become distorted.
Open Call for Photo Submission – Becoming Poison
Impeached is thrilled to announce an open call for artists working in the photographic medium to contribute to an upcoming photo book titled “Becoming Poison: A Lens On The Toxic World of Plastic. This project is dedicated to exploring and exposing the profound effects of plastic in its various forms.
Huma Bhabha: Ambiguous Otherness
With her first monographic exhibition in a French institution, Huma Bhabha seamlessly weaves together diverse eras, materials, and iconic forms to create thought-provoking works that explore anthropomorphic and hybrid presences.
Small Amnesias – Kunsthalle Neuwerk
Explore ‘Small Amnesias’ at Kunsthalle Neuwerk, an evocative exhibition by Maltese artist Vince Briffa. Immerse in a unique blend of video art and soundscapes that echo Malta’s rich heritage, expertly curated by Nina Maier. A sensory journey of memory, identity, and place
Powered by
Publications
Social
Legal