My Aunt's Christmas

“O Natal da Minha Tia” is a photographic project resulting from a family reunion held in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic. A party carefully prepared by my paternal aunt, who invited family, friends and acquaintances to attend the Christmas ceremony.

My Aunt's Christmas is a project that took place from a family gathering at São Lourenço, south of Minas Gerais, Brazil. The event, a ceremony convened by my aunt after the period of almost ten years.

Despite the pandemic, I decided to accept the invitation because I believed that a meeting with these same people would not be repeated anytime soon. During the celebration, I felt that I needed to record what was going on and decided to borrow a camera, which is the resource I use to interact in certain situations.

This series presents the stages of the production process of that one-night event, so lovingly prepared by my aunt and characterized by the unique elements of her festive and religious universe. Even though it represented a paradox, the ceremony symbolized a kind of catharsis due to the losses and difficult situations she went through.

The series is full of symbolic elements of the festivity itself and which also represent a unique view of my aunt through her religiosity, her memories, and how this relationship is present in her own home, alluding to the way Christmas is celebrated in several homes in Brazil.