In search of Hymenaeus

In Greek mythology, Hymenaeus is one of the love gods, presiding over marriage ceremonies. Despite his name meaning the "joiner," who "sews together the lives of two individuals," he supposedly left his own wedding; thus, at each ceremony, people would call for him, and if he didn't answer, the marriage would not work.

From a small town called Ouad Amlil, in Taza, Morocco, began the joint venture of two individuals that will result in bringing me to life. However, it seems that Hymenaeus may have deserted the wedding, and what was once a place I was attached to and cherished soon became a distant, desolate space I rarely visit because of the strained relationship between my parents.

The disconnect with my hometown and my distorted view of relationships lasted for years until I stumbled upon old film rolls haphazardly stored in rusty coffee bins. The photographs contained fragments of the town's past when the houses felt less desolate and fuller with life, and Hymenaeus seemed to be roaming around. This dichotomy between the state of the past and the present made me want to document it, and through restoration work, new photographs, interviews, and research, I intend to further explore these changes and leave behind more than fragments but rather a fuller picture of Ouad Amlil, of my origins, and the relationships that once made this place feel like home.