Grief often arises from losing something tangible: a loved one, a relationship, or a way of life. But what about when the loss is intangible, tied to a relationship that never fully existed? This project explores disenfranchised grief, mourning a brother I never met, who passed away before I was born due to cancer. Though I never knew him, his absence feels like a phantom limb, something present yet out of reach.
For my family, the grief is deeply personal, rooted in memories of a child they held and loved. For me, it’s about the potential he left behind: a sibling relationship that could have been.
This project reclaims the relationship I never had, giving voice to a form of grief often overlooked. It explores how we mourn relationships that exist only in the space between memory and imagination, and how those connections, though intangible, can profoundly shape our emotional landscape.
As an ongoing exploration, this project continues to evolve, unraveling layers of grief, connection, and understanding. By sharing my experience, I hope to offer solace and recognition to those navigating similar disenfranchised grief, bringing hidden emotions into the light to be seen, acknowledged, and understood.
