Roman Yee
A poignant image of the artist's mother in hospice, captured on Leica M6 with Kodak Portra 400, symbolizing grief and acceptance.

Personal

Familiar Yet Foreign

Roman Yee
Roman Yee

The images are an intimate and tender attempt to process, grieve, and mourn my mother in a way that feels lucid to me. Through making her portraits and taking photos of my daily walks to and from the hospital in a city that feels familiar yet foreign, perhaps it stirred up similar memories of our relationship.

We had our issues; with its share of ups and downs. In hindsight, I wish I'd been more open when she reached out. It wasn't until her health deteriorated that I attempted to bridge our differences. Her gaze upon my arrival held understanding, void of judgment. With a mother's love, she accepted me. Our silence spoke volumes, and being together sufficed.

As I prepared to leave for the airport, she said with a soft, reassuring tone, expressing her motherly concern and affection, “take care of yourself.” In that moment, a silent understanding passed between us. Conveying my wish for her recovery and the desire to ease her worries, I responded with “just focus on getting better.” We held hands, and in that fleeting touch, I sensed it was our farewell.

A wide view over a dense city in Taiwan toward green hills under soft clouds, Leica M6 on Kodak Portra
Portrait of the photographer's mother resting in a hospital bed in a patterned gown, gazing gently, Leica M6 on Kodak Portra
Potted water plants with round leaves on a tiled sidewalk beside a handwritten shop sign in Taiwan, Leica M6 on Kodak Portra
A caregiver gently spoon-feeds the photographer's mother in her hospital bed, soft window light, Leica M6 on Kodak Portra
The photographer's mother asleep under a pink quilt in a hospital bed, monitor and rails beside her, Leica M6 on Kodak Portra
Scooters wait at a crosswalk in golden evening light on the walk to and from the hospital in Taiwan, Leica M6 on Kodak Portra
A quiet side street in Taiwan with corrugated storefronts and a parked car in morning shade, Leica M6 on Kodak Portra
Looking through a lit hair salon window at dusk, scooters parked outside on a Taiwan street, Leica M6 on Kodak Portra
Close view of the photographer's mother resting on her pillow as a masked visitor sits by the window, Leica M6 on Kodak Portra
An older man in a face mask sits beside the hospital bed where the photographer's mother rests, Leica M6 on Kodak Portra
Laundry hangs drying on a rail outside an apartment building in Taiwan above potted plants, Leica M6 on Kodak Portra
A nurse in a pink cardigan tenderly touches the face of the photographer's mother in her hospital bed, Leica M6 on Kodak Portra
The photographer's mother reads a folded newspaper in her hospital bed under a peach quilt, Leica M6 on Kodak Portra
An IV pole, infusion pump and bed rail in warm light beside a hospital bed, a quiet still life, Leica M6 on Kodak Portra
Scooters and cars head into a blazing sunset on a city street in Taiwan on the way from the hospital, Leica M6 on Kodak Portra
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