This series of photographs, taken of my grandmother in her garden this past summer, depict a sense of hope, of budding normalcy amongst the harsh reality. Living with my grandmother amidst a pandemic was a worrisome existence; her age made her vulnerable and she didn’t grasp the severity of the situation, as someone who has lived through and seen even worse. My mother or I would often chide her for walking to the local store to buy her newspaper and groceries, we insisted she tell us when she needed something. I hope to represent the love and tenderness that I have for my grandmother, that she has for me, for her garden and plants which she cares for, for all her children and grandchildren. The day this was photographed, I remember leaving the house one day at the end of summer and seeing her in the garden, wearing a homemade mask with hearts on it which my aunt made for her. I remember thinking how sweet she looked, and how dedicated she was to her flowers and plants. I feel grateful for the memories these photographs hold, and how grateful I am to still have the opportunity to make many more memories in the future.

Amanda Kung is an emerging interdisciplinary artist based in Toronto. Her work looks at defining selfhood and navigating the world as someone who has lost and is learning to build a connection to their culture in the age of the internet. She explores these themes through video, textiles and clothing, performance, and photography. Her work has been exhibited at galleries in Toronto as well as Florence, Italy.