Grief Made Visible

Charlene Lam Open House Lisboa 2024 · Accessibility and Inclusion
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Grief and loss are universal human experiences. But our cities and cultures rarely give us space to acknowledge the grief we’re carrying.

We’re so accustomed to hiding our emotions that they may become inaccessible even to us.

Grief is often invisible.

Open House Lisboa 2024 coincided with Mother’s Day in the US.

Lisbon-based curator of The Grief Gallery Charlene Lam visited the Palácio Sinel de Cordes, home of the Trienal de Lisboa, carrying a ceramic Hello Kitty figure from her childhood to represent her hidden emotions: grief for her mom, mourning for her child self.

Grief made visible.

In the background, the monumental dome of the Panteão. Our loved ones may not be famous but they can be monumental to us.

How can our built environments make normal human emotions like grief more accessible?

How can we be more inclusive of people whose inner spaces may be in turmoil?