On Becoming my Grandmother

On Becoming My Grandmother is a performance art project based on a developmental workshop inspired by A World of My Own by Geraldine Pilgrim. The project explores the complexities of embodying another person—in this case, my grandmother, Gregoria Sánchez de la Rosa, who suffered from Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.

The first phase involved dressing as my grandmother for three hours, during which I impersonated her mannerisms and physical presence. I was accompanied by artist Robert Ridley-Shackleton, who acted as witness and companion, reflecting the reality that my grandmother could not walk alone due to her condition. During this time, I experienced moments of anxiety and fatigue—such as needing to rest on the grass—which highlighted the emotional and physical limits of becoming someone else in performance.

This process revealed the visible and invisible boundaries inherent in empathetic embodiment and performance art. It also raised critical questions about the ethical and emotional challenges of representing others, especially those living with vulnerability or distress.

The second phase took place in a museum setting where, without costume, I behaved as my grandmother might, photographing objects I imagined would capture her curiosity. This part of the project generated a different kind of empathy—one framed visually and personally—and was documented in a risograph booklet exhibited at the Glass Tank Gallery.

Overall, the project reflects on memory, identity, empathy, and the ethical considerations of live art practice. It demonstrates how performance art can reconstruct and preserve fragile histories before they vanish from collective memory.