This project began as an exploration of the relationship between me and my younger sister. She has a chronic depression coupled with suicidal thoughts. It was not until she moved to a different country I realised that I had a lot of unprocessed feelings related to this. So naturally, I picked up the camera to start processing these.

What started out as a personal project has become, at least for me, a project that attempts to explore the effects of depression as seen by an outsider.

The project is named for the small tattoo of a semi-colon she has. This is often used as a type of memorial by those who have (had) suicidal thoughts or tendencies who subsequently found the will to continue living. Mirroring the way a semi-colon is both an end and a continuation grammatically speaking.

If we pay attention we all know someone with one of these tattoos (or someone that could have one). I hope that drawing attention to this this we can have new conversations about mental health. Not just for those that suffer from depression (or other afflictions) but also those close to them.

At the time of writing I am translating all this into a book. The process for this is in large part made possible by a generous grant from the Fentener Van Vlissingen Fonds. I have also exhibited this work during De Opening in Utrecht.