"Memory of a Photo of My Parents", Mixed Media/Collage Journal Page, February 24 2010
I’m still in the process of writing up the proceedings for the fabulous opening of my “Pieces of Me III” exhibition this past week. Today I thought I’d share some thoughts with you about the infamous journal page that graces my postcard cover for the show… I don’t think many of you may know the story behind its creation…
“A Memory of a Photo of My Parents”, was one of the first journal pages I made using only magazine fragments… and let me tell you it was a pretty scary thing to do. It shouldn’t have been because for years now I’ve been collaging out of mainly magazine fragments, but this time I wanted more than a beautiful, seductive image. I wanted to transform those commercial fragments into something extraordinary and emotionally charged.
Although I have the actual photo of my parents’ engagement, I decided not to use it in the piece. Instead I challenged myself to come up with an image that would reflect the life span of my parents’ relationship since that photo was taken. Although I never planned it, the imagery that eventually found its home on the page ended up speaking of their relationship architecturally. It reveals the awesome heights their early relationship soared to as well as the depths of despair it sank to as they realized their love for each other had died.
I love using elements of Persian architecture in my work… especially for this piece because it alludes to one of the greatest Indian love stories of all … the construction of that wonder of a palace: the Taj Mahal. This genre of architecture with its breath-taking ornately decorated walls, columns and doorways reminds me of the one built by Shah Jahan for his favourite wife Mumtaz Mahal. Shah Jahan’s love for his wife, made me think of the lengths my father went to to please my mother in the early years of their courtship and marriage. Theirs was a love that defied all — both married against the wishes of their respective families. I remember being so proud of how much dad loved mom and that he cared for nothing more than to give her the very best that he could afford. Ah, but those were the early days… the days before leaving Pakistan for a life in Canada that changed their lives in so many ways. Over time, my parents strayed from the path of love; each pursued different dreams and values… their love became estranged. The image on the lower right of the page of a broken down home reflects this moment in time. I like the frail porch fragment that looks like it could fall apart at any moment… much like my parent’s marriage decades later when they found themselves in personal and financial ruin. When I ran across the woman in red, the page’s central character, I felt she belonged there overlooking the alter-like field in the centre … in her mind worshipping the image of her once happy parents now emblazoned in her memory… balancing within a landscape created by fragments filled with awe and sorrow. It was difficult to write my story on her back, I wondered if it would meld with or ruin the entire page. In the end I felt like the text really felt right there; that it was the best place for so many reasons… one being the tremendous emotional weight this story has had on my being.
Believe or not, revealing the heartbreaking story of my parents’ marriage was cathartic (healing). It released some of my pain. I love making beautiful things out of tragic situations… in some strange way it brings acceptance, insight and understanding into difficult personal matters. It helps me to deal with a past I cannot change but must also learn to live with in a dignified way…. now as I say all this to you, I realize that these are my reflections about the page. I know when viewers interact with it, it has the possibility of maybe confirming my intentions as well as becoming something entirely different as each viewer reads their own life story into my art. I would be intrigued to hear your comments about this page. Also, if you’d like further information regarding the image sources for it, please let me know.
I look forward to sharing exciting details and marvelous photos of the opening “gala”of “Pieces of Me III” very soon!
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