WHO ARE YOU TALKING TO?
by Matthew Wong from Vancouver, Canada
Due to the global pandemic I had to return home to Canada shortly after moving to Paris, France. With no job and my grandfather’s failing health I decided to stay with my grandparents for a while. They live in a small city in northern British Columbia called Prince George; the city I was born in. This was a drastic change for me being a big city person. The purpose of my stay was to help out around the house and be supportive. I decided before I arrived that I would produce a little project about my grandfather because there was no guarantee of having the opportunity in the future. He was recently diagnosed with shingles as well as dementia. This is on top of the effects of having suffered a heart attack several years ago and having gout. My grandfather is also hard of hearing however, he refuses to wear his hearing aids. I found it easier to communicate to him by writing little messages on cue cards.
Witnessing the drastic decline of my grandfather over a short period has been difficult. I’ve tried to be caring and supportive of him and my grandmother during these unprecedented times. I love my grandfather but, he is not the easiest person to be close with. He is known for his temper and his stubbornness. This little photo essay is a way for me to work through the complexities of my family dynamics as well as express my love. I’ve tried to portray an honest but loving example of my grandfather.
After completing the project and returning home to Vancouver, my grandfather has also been diagnosed with a type of blood cancer.
