This morning I went to Donja Vrba, to give photographs to Marija, Liza and Ana, three women I photographed last year. They all live in a small village near Slavonski Brod in Croatia. First I visited Marija, who lives in a large, old house. When I met her last year she was in good health, very chatty, with strong features and clear eyes. Today, she was laying in bed, looking quite weak and pale, with her daughter looking after her. Her daughter said that it was good we visited today as this Wednesday she due to have an operation. Marija was so happy I came by and she really liked the photographs. It is such an amazing feeling when the people one photographs really like the photo. It makes me feel as though the whole project is worth it, and that connection that is created during this act of sharing is very powerful. All that uncertainty seems worth bearing…
I really like Marija, she is a strong woman, who I believe will pull through…Is she more ready for the day then some of us who have not prepared our clothes and the whole attire for the final moment, I wouldn’t know…
I also met Liza, whom I photographed in the amazing room with beautifully embroidered clothing (see image in the first blog). She was well and liked the picture very much, saying that she will frame it immediately. Ana, whom I visited last was there with her family and responded generously too. All three of them asked how much money they owed me for the photographs, which was very sweet…I felt the owing is more from me to them…
Their kindness was healing…
Tomorrow I am on the road again. This time I am joined by Marcus, my husband, and we will be making our way to Mala Pilica, near Bijeljina, east Bosnia. There a friend of mine, Zeljka, has done good work in finding women who are wiling to have their clothes for death photographed…
