Leah Reso

Perspective

Perspective is a series of six photographic images centered around my mother’s life after her cancer diagnosis. The subject matter includes objects from her daily life and routine, showing the beauty in the ordinary aspects of my mother’s life, and how much of it has remained unchanged because she fought to not let cancer define her. I chose to use black and white portraiture because it is not a rigid medium and can easily show the vulnerability and intimacy of the subject. Through this work, I hope to show that no matter what a person’s struggle may be, it does not have to take control of their life. My objective is to shine a positive, accepting light on those struggling with mental illness and destigmatize this struggle within society. I believe mental health is unfairly stigmatized within our society, and that art can be a tool to bring awareness and add to the conversation to destigmatize mental health struggles. In June of 2022, my mother Lois was diagnosed with terminal lung cancer. This diagnosis disrupted her life, created immense physical and mental struggle, and put a strain on familial relationships--especially with my father. Despite everything, my mother and I have only grown closer.