Kiss Of Death

PHOTOGRAPHY

Jan 21

In Kiss of Death, photographer Berber Theunissen offers an achingly intimate portrayal of her family’s battle with her partner’s stage 4 cancer diagnosis. Through evocative medium-format imagery, she captures the raw emotions of grief, fear, and resilience, revealing the fragility of life and the enduring strength of love amidst overwhelming uncertainty.

Photography Berber Theunissen

Berber Theunissen grapples with feelings of grief, guilt, and fear, as her family’s life is overtaken by the uncertainty of his stage 4 cancer diagnosis. She feels torn between caring for their children, a son and a baby girl, and trying to stay strong for them while battling her own emotions. The constant presence of cancer in their lives has made it impossible to plan for the future, and the family lives in a state of emotional and physical exhaustion, unsure of what each day will bring.

In the midst of this, the couple tries to hold on, finding strength in their children and each other, but the shadow of death remains ever-present. She expresses her fear of losing her partner and witnessing her children’s heartbreak. A poignant moment comes when the partner, asked if he’s afraid of dying, replies that he is not afraid of death itself but of saying goodbye. This uncertainty and grief form the emotional core of their daily lives, as they struggle to maintain hope amidst the unpredictable and devastating circumstances.

The constant presence of cancer in their lives has made it impossible to plan for the future, and the family lives in a state of emotional and physical exhaustion, unsure of what each day will bring.

About Berber

Berber Theunissen (b. 1989) graduated cum laude from Fotoacademie, Amsterdam, in 2013. Working exclusively in medium format, Berber’s work revolves around issues of femininity and early motherhood.

Whether that has been documenting the incredibly strong bonds between her and her partner as they look to navigate the intense heartbreak of a miscarriage, or capturing beautifully intimate investigations into the imperfections of the human form. All this combined with her powerful landscapes that are a reflection and/ or memory of her emotional being. Berber’s work offers an incredibly honest account of what it means to be a young mother, to be a woman.

To see more of Berber’s work, visit her website and follow her on Instagram.

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In Kiss of Death, photographer Berber Theunissen offers an achingly intimate portrayal of her family’s battle with her partner’s stage 4 cancer diagnosis. Through evocative medium-format imagery, she captures the raw emotions of grief, fear, and resilience, revealing the fragility of life and the enduring strength of love amidst overwhelming uncertainty.

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Christian Trippe

Kiss Of Death

The constant presence of cancer in their lives has made it impossible to plan for the future, and the family lives in a state of emotional and physical exhaustion, unsure of what each day will bring.

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Antigua Walls