In the summer of 2011, thanks to a grant from Canada Council for the Arts, I embarked on a four-month road trip across Canada from British Columbia to Newfoundland for my Oh Canada! project. As someone who had moved from Toronto to New York and spent 14 years in the US, I took this opportunity to explore and capture the essence of Canadians outside of the big cities.
During parts of the trip, my dad joined me, and my mum accompanied us for a couple of weeks. Alberta was a first-time experience for all of us. We attended a Star Trek festival, visited museums filled with stuffed gophers and eerie dolls, and explored a replica pioneer village. This particular photo was taken at the Fantasy Land hotel in West Edmonton Mall. Locals in Edmonton shared stories about renting rooms there for birthday parties or prom nights. The hotel had various themed rooms, including one with an igloo-shaped bed. I knew I had to book that room as soon as I saw it.
I remember a time when people, especially Americans, would joke, “Oh, do you live in an igloo?” when they found out I was Canadian. The hotel fully embraced the igloo theme, complete with a faux fur-covered bed, an icy landscape with huskies painted on the wall, and a snowflake carpet pattern. Although the mirror on the ceiling is partially visible in the photo, the jacuzzi is not.
The room also had a pull-out couch and a pair of bunk beds, but my mum and I had shared a bed many times before, so we both slept in the igloo. It was my idea to take this photo, even though my parents always disliked being photographed. My mum was a beautiful woman, but photos rarely captured her true beauty. She would often end up looking asymmetrical and joke, “What’s wrong with my face?” We would jokingly call her Picasso.
Most of my work revolves around environmental portraiture, capturing people in their natural surroundings. There’s a certain level of collaboration between myself and the subjects. Instead of directing them, I prefer to let them engage with me organically, resulting in a harmonious balance within the image. While I have mastered capturing these shots quickly, I feel a bit less confident when it comes to self-portraits or photographing family members. This particular photo took multiple attempts. The camera had a fixed timer, so I had to sprint to the bed, jump in, and compose myself within a 10-second timeframe. I also had to jump over my mum and smooth out the sheets. She had it easier since all she had to do was look straight ahead and avoid blinking at the crucial moment. Times have changed since then, and younger generations may not appreciate the challenges we faced. Nowadays, I could take a similar photo from the bed using a smartphone app.
I believe my mum had purchased that nightgown specifically for the trip. It was relatively new because my parents rarely bought new clothes. Unfortunately, she passed away wearing that nightgown last year, two years after my dad’s passing. There are very few photos of me and my parents together. I made an effort to take more photos in their final years while serving as their primary caregiver, but my dad often questioned my motives, and I had very little energy. Nevertheless, I cherish this photo. It’s my favorite photo of my mum and me because it symbolizes the closeness of our relationship. She was not just my mother but also my best friend. Some people may grow distant from their parents, but I always wanted to be right by her side, just like in this photo, on the ice floe.
Haddon Hall by Naomi Harris is published by Void. You can find more of my work on Instagram
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