Unspoken: A Photography Project about Perinatal Loss, By Felicia Chang

A photography project by Felicia Chang was borne out of the need to break the silence of perinatal loss in order to create a space where individual stories and words can come together and be acknowledged, and each baby’s memory honoured. It was created with the intention of drawing awareness to the gaps in support that exist in this end of life and transitional space. It was created to empower women and non-binary folks to speak collectively about their experience of loss.

This project also explores personal grief and how that grief is affected by society and culture and how it has changed over time for each individual person. The testimonials shared will hopefully provide a better understanding of grief and its integral role in healing after loss.

What is involved?

Process

• A collaborative process, where you have agency over the loss and grief narrative that you share within the scope of the project. This means you decide how much anonymity or transparency you share in photos and words.

• You and Felicia will spend some time together in conversation about your experience (about 1-2 hours, but flexible on length of time). Other than a few questions, she will follow your direction on how you collaborate. Show up as you are and offer what you can.

• Felicia will be recording your conversation for the purposes of keeping project notes and transcription.

What will be created together

Photography:

• A portrait series (literal to conceptual/abstract)

• Memory keeping items that connect you with your child

• A physical place where you connect with your grief and your child

• Handwritten sentences

Audio:

• Small clips of audio files to be paired with certain photographs

About the Photographer

Felicia is a freelance photographer, educator and speaker based in North Vancouver. She is drawn to the nuances of human emotions and how photographs have the power to shape peopleʼs narratives. So much of her work has been driven and informed by her understanding and experience of motherhood. Felicia has photographed and witnessed many stories about women and their role as matriarchs, but over time, it is the spaces at the beginning and end of life *within the context of motherhood* that have transformed her. Felicia’s years-long experience (with Canuck Place Hospice and Lions Gate Hospital labour & delivery) of supporting families during their time of loss is what led me to this project.

You can read more about the Unspoken project on Felicia’s website.

Please contact Felicia for more information or to be involved in the Unspoken project.

• Family & Birth work: www.feliciachangphotography.com

• Personal Project work: www.feliciachang.com

• IG: @feliciachangphoto

• Email: chang.felicia@gmail.com

• Phone: (604) 961-6592