'We got naked and covered ourselves in Vaseline': Katherine Hubbard on photographing her ailing mother
Over five years, Hubbard photographed her mother at home as her memory declined – even persuading her to make nude body prints. What does her mum think of the wrenchingly beautiful images?
TL;DR
- Artist Katherine Hubbard photographed her mother, Antonette Berger, over five years as her memory declined due to LATE (limbic-predominant age-related TDP-43 encephalopathy).
- The photographic series, 'The Great Room,' published as the book 'One Fifty One,' captures Berger in her Philadelphia apartment.
- Hubbard used vintage Polaroid cameras and mirrors in her photographs to project herself into the images and alter power dynamics.
- She also created nude body prints with her mother in the darkroom, using their bodies as printing tools on photo paper.
- The project explored themes of memory loss, caretaking, loss, anger, acceptance, and love.
- Berger found strength and value in being part of the project and trusted Hubbard unconditionally.