Tata by Jillian Abir MacMaster

Issue 164

In the series Tata, I examine themes of family, immigration, age, and religion. Tata, (“grandmother” in Arabic) is a portraiture series of my grandmother. Originally from Palestine, she immigrated to the states in the 80s, following my mother and aunt, after fleeing two wars in her lifetime. Through photographing her and paying attention to her daily moments, I found myself learning more about her personality and mind, and feeling more connected to my personal roots and family history. This series documents Tata and her personal joys, her belongings that she has carried with her through migrations, her garden, her devout Catholicism, and more. In my work, I seek to challenge power imbalances and give the upper hand to my subjects. Through this exploration, I show Tata as a powerful woman who has overcome unimaginable obstacles, and capture both her resilience and peacefulness.

Jillian Abir MacMaster (she/her/hers) lives and works in Frederick, Maryland.
jillianmacmaster.com | @jillianabirmacmaster

All images © Jillian Abir MacMaster