In Memory
Marco Pena
Maxim van den bijgaart
Wang Naigong's "I Am Still With You" captures the warmth of familial love with the weight of an impending loss. The image portrays a family gathered in a seemingly joyful, intimate moment, yet the undertone of the scene speaks to something far more serious: death. By presenting this contrast, the photograph reveals how life's most significant moments are often hidden beneath the surface of what appears to be happiness.
With our installation we wanted to bring that contrast to life by showing the full spectrum to life hidden behind the facade of a happy memorial. Life is a complex buildup of experiences that range from black to white with all sorts of grays in between. By including moments that show both the good and the difficult parts of life, we challenge the western tradition of only showing joyful highlights. This approach mirrors Naigongs ability to show the complexity of life and death, encouraging viewers to think about the balance between what is presented and what is real during the grieving process.
World Press Photo

(Naigong, 2019)
Final visual
Photos



