An attempt to reconstruct the Image of My Mother
Ten years ago, I lost my mother suddenly in a traumatic event. Our relationship had always been complicated, and her unexpected death left me grappling with unresolved emotions. Since then, I have been haunted by nightly dreams of her, fueling a deep desire to bring her presence back into my life in some form.
Text: Photos: Beatrice Signorello
© Beatrice Signorello
© Beatrice Signorello
© Beatrice Signorello
With only a few photographs of her, I began questioning how I remember her—and how memory itself functions. This led me to a deep exploration of reconstructing her appearance. Using a combination of archival photos, machine learning, and manual digital sculpting, I created a 3D model of her face. From the printed model, I produced a mold and cast a silicone mask.
© Beatrice Signorello
Once the mask was complete—along with self-styled details like a blond wig—I wore it and took a series of self-portraits.
© Beatrice Signorello
© Beatrice Signorello
Photo left: Sketch by Roland Reiter
This project is not only an attempt to recreate her likeness, but also a performative experiment that acknowledges the impossibility of truly bringing her back. The realism of the mask—always slightly imperfect—captures both the limits of reconstruction and the fleeting hope it represents.
© Beatrice Signorello
© Beatrice Signorello
© Beatrice Signorello
© Beatrice Signorello
© Beatrice Signorello
© Beatrice Signorello
A project on the theme of M(OTHER)ING, realized in collaboration with the Applied Photography and Time-Based Media class led by Prof. Maria Ziegelböck at the University of Applied Arts Vienna. Created as part of Yasmina Haddad's MATCH! #4 course.
The interrelationship between photography, fashion, and casting is examined, with a focus on the relationship between photographer and subject—and vice versa. The mother figure is not meant biologically, but is considered through acts of care:
m(other)ing is a verb.
mothers mother
fathers mother
friends mother
(you can be the mother of a house)
Are you maternal? Or are you mom? Like, queen?*
Huge thanks to all people who help me with this project, especially Roland Reiter and Leonard Weydemann.
Beatrice Signorello is a photographer and mathematician based in Vienna, currently in Minnesota for a three-month internship with photographer Alec Soth. She is originally from Italy and moved to Vienna to pursue a PhD in Mathematics, which she completed in 2022. Since 2023, she has been studying in the Applied Photography class at the University of Applied Arts Vienna. With her projects “Plantsch! A Summer in Gänsehäufel” and “Regina,” she explores the hidden layers of human emotions and interactions, blurring the lines between the mundane and the extraordinary. “ImmerHin” is an ongoing project centered on the memory of her mother. She is available for commissions — especially portrait work.
