Representing the “Life” piece of the series within the Homecoming exhibition of “Life, Death Rebirth”.
 
 The smoking bench on my grandparents' front porch held a profound significance for my grandfather. It was his sacred space, a source of safety, comfort, and self-acceptance. Here, amidst the familiar surroundings of home, he would retreat to think, to find solitude, and to connect with friends – his own personal sanctuary.

Later, it became his quiet place of contemplation on mortality. His consistent presence there, even in illness, spoke volumes of a man coming to terms with life's final chapter. Now, that same bench serves as a conduit across time. Sitting there, I ponder his thoughts, the echoes of his presence lingering in the very wood. It has become a shared sanctuary, a place where his grandchildren, too, find solace and engage in deep thought, forever cherishing it as his bench, now a vessel for our own reflections.