In Hanging with My Bestie, a forgotten vintage photograph becomes the heart of a contemporary mixed-media collage exploring friendship, memory, and the enduring presence of those who have shaped our lives. Layers of acrylic paint, vintage papers, and found imagery transform an anonymous photograph into a new visual narrative where the past and present quietly coexist.
At the centre of the composition, a weathered wooden chair cradles a vintage photograph of two women in conversation. Traditionally, an empty chair symbolizes absence and the loss of someone no longer with us. Here, the chair becomes more than a piece of furniture—it becomes a place where memory resides. The photograph suggests that while people may leave our lives, the moments we shared with them continue to accompany us.
Expressive painted figures dissolve into textured surfaces while delicate flowers emerge as symbols of remembrance, resilience, and renewal. Created through an intuitive process of layering, obscuring, and revealing, this original mixed-media collage combines vintage photography, acrylic paint, and found materials to honour the beauty of imperfect, timeworn objects. Although the photograph belongs to strangers, its quiet familiarity invites viewers to reflect on friendships, loss, and the memories that continue to connect us across generations.
