When does the end begin?
Maria Neohoriti used photography as a way to communicate with her mother and at the same time dealing with the fear of losing her. In this long-term project she has been documenting the pain of getting old and weak.
Photography Maria Neohoriti
Maria Neohoriti: “The photos are part of a long term project dealing with my fear of losing my mother, our communication through photography and her pain of getting old and weak. It's my attempt to keep as much of her as I can before she goes away.
It concerns my mother's fall. The woman who brought me into the world, raised me, loved me and taught me to love and care.
The woman who, due to her mental illness, is now like a baby. But she is not. A baby has a future and she has only the past. The present is sadness and anguish.”
She recently told me: “I was crying all night long yesterday. For what I was and what I became.”
Her words reminded me of the poem ‘Les Regrets de la Belle Heaulmière’ by François Villon
“This is the fate of human beauty!
Shrunken arms and clenched hands
[And] completely hunchbacked.
What breasts! All wizened
Like my hips... ."
“I want to get a piece of paper to close my eyes because they are not worth anymore, you told me. Mary, do not leave me alone, you say. I lay down next to you.”
“I’m glad you said my name. I come to listen if you breathe.”
“I can't stand it anymore, you say.”
“You are not alone I tell you. I'm here too.”
“You are human, I want my friends, you answer.”
On New Year's day I made you listen to the carols but they did not remind you of anything. But you still remember telling me: “Be careful.”
And when you said to me: “I love you but I do not want you to love me much.”
I felt this familiar knot in my chest.
“Mom, I watch my life passing out of the window. With you.
And I wish we will still be together on 2021.”
About Maria
Maria Neohoriti studied Law and is an amateur photographer from Greece. She developed a keen interest in photography over the last 6 years, attended several seminars and workshops at the Vivarte School of Photography and at the Hellenic Photographic Society.
Her work has been published in LensCulture, Photologio, Photoeidolo, 35awards and the American magazine Photographize.
To see more Maria’s work, please follow her on Instagram
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