In making the series; Mother's, Ishiuchi taped worn
chemises and girdles to the sliding glass door in her parents’ home,
allowing the sun to backlight the undergarments when photographed.
Old shoes, dentures, used lipstick cases, tattered gloves, and other
accessories owned by her mother also feature as subjects. Combining
these images with the pictures of her mother made before she died,
Ishiuchi generated a sombre, gentle portrait with the series Mother’s.
When exhibiting this work at the Venice Biennale in 2005, Ishiuchi
realized that sharing these intimate views of her mother’s life resonated
with many visitors, thus transforming the work from a private expression
of sorrow into a powerful, universal eulogy.
