THE SPACE BETWEEN
in collaboration with Death Dancer
Two portraits. Two moments. An experience left unseen.
My interest in this project comes, in part, from my own unanswered questions about grief. My experiences have left me with uncertainties and curiosities that I suspect are not mine alone. Grief is something many of us encounter, yet it remains difficult to describe, understand, or anticipate. Even when familiar, it can feel entirely unfamiliar again.
I am interested in what happens when we give ourselves the opportunity to spend time with this subject matter. What does it mean to sit with grief, loss, or remembrance? What might a discussion, activity, or moment of reflection bring to the surface? And how might someone present themselves immediately before and after such an encounter?
The project does not presume that anything will change. It does not attempt to illustrate grief, document healing, or demonstrate the impact of an activity. There is no expected emotional response, and no particular outcome is being sought.
The portraits are presented together, leaving the space between them largely unexplained. A viewer may instinctively look for differences, however subtle, or may find the two portraits remarkably similar. Both possibilities are equally meaningful to the work. The photographs do not provide definitive answers about the person or their experience. They invite consideration while leaving room for uncertainty and individual interpretation.
The Photographs
Each participant will be photographed twice: once before a selected discussion or activity, and again afterward, when they feel comfortable returning.
I am interested in photographing people as they present themselves in those moments, without attempting to influence or manufacture an expression. I will not direct posture, gaze, or emotion, or ask someone to appear a particular way. My interaction with the subject will be limited to a simple readiness check: “Are you ready?”
The photographs will be made as straightforward portraits, allowing each person to appear as they are at that particular moment.
The final photographic treatment has not yet been determined. The work may be presented in color, black and white, sepia, or another considered approach. That decision will develop through the making of the portraits and in response to the work as a whole.
The images will receive the photographic editing necessary to realize the project, but they will not be digitally retouched. I will not remove or alter physical features, scars, or elements of the surroundings. The intention is to present the portraits honestly, without digitally manufacturing a version of the person or the moment.
The finished diptychs will be presented in frames crafted from found frames.
Taking Part
The project will take place alongside a series of Death Dancer community events, with at least three events anticipated during January and February 2027. Additional opportunities may be considered if interest and circumstances allow.
Death Dancer regularly facilitates activities and gatherings that create opportunities for people to engage with grief, loss, remembrance, and reflection. I am working with Jennie and Rebecca to identify existing events that may be appropriate for the photographic project to accompany.
The selection of events will be guided by the nature of each activity, the vulnerability of the moments it may involve, and the importance of respecting the people attending and the purpose of the gathering. The events are not being created for the photography. They will take place independently of the project and retain their own purpose and value, whether or not anyone chooses to participate in the project.
Participation in the photography is entirely separate from attending an event. You do not need to take part in the portraits to attend, and attending an event does not imply an interest or commitment to participate in the project.
Visitors will not be approached or asked to participate. The photography will remain separate from the activities themselves. If you are interested, you are welcome to contact me privately to ask questions or express an interest. There is no obligation to proceed.
If you choose to participate, the process will be:
Before the event: You will be provided with information about the project and its intended use. Your name and contact details will be collected, and the necessary consent and image use permissions will be reviewed and completed. I will be available to answer any questions you may have.
The first portrait: Before making the photograph, I will ask, “Are you ready?” I will not direct your expression, posture, or gaze, or attempt to influence how you present yourself.
The event: You take part in the Death Dancer activity in your own way. The activity is not photographed, recorded, or observed as part of this project.
The second portrait: After the event has closed, when you feel comfortable returning, you may have the second portrait made. This does not need to happen immediately. You may take as much time as you need, or decide to not have a second portrait made.
I will not ask you to describe your experience, explain your feelings, or share your personal history. I will not initiate conversation about the project or the activity during the photographic process. Beyond answering questions when asked and checking that you are ready before each portrait, I will leave the interaction undirected.
There is no required emotional response and no expectation that you will feel or appear differently.
Privacy, Consent & Choice
Taking part is voluntary at every stage. You may decline to participate, pause, or change your mind without having to provide a reason. Your decision to be photographed and your permission for the resulting images to be exhibited or published are separate matters. These permissions will be explained and obtained explicitly before the photographs are made and used.
The project is intended to present participants without names, personal histories, or identifying narratives. No interviews or personal accounts will accompany the portraits. Contact details and consent records will be handled separately from the photographic files.
Although identifying information will not be included in the presentation, complete anonymity cannot be guaranteed. Someone familiar with you may recognize your portrait.
You may contact me at any time to withdraw permission for future use of your photographs. I will honor withdrawal requests for uses that remain under my control. It may not be possible to recall prints already distributed or reproductions already published by third parties.
If you have questions about privacy, consent, or the use of the photographs, you are welcome to discuss them with me before making any decision.
The Exhibition
The resulting portraits are intended to be presented as paired works, with each diptych bringing two moments together in a single frame.
The first planned public exhibition is anticipated for the Spring Art Walk in Olympia in April 2027. The work may also be presented on this website and in other photographic or exhibition contexts, subject to the permissions given by each participant.
The presentation will not include explanations of individual experiences. The portraits will stand together without a prescribed narrative, allowing viewers to consider what they see while recognizing that the photographs cannot tell the whole story.
If the project interests you, or if you simply have questions, I would be glad to hear from you.
You do not need to explain why you are interested or share anything personal. An enquiry is not a commitment to participate. It is simply an opportunity to learn more and decide whether the project feels right for you.
The Space Between is an independent photographic project by Matt Shaw, developed in collaboration with Death Dancer in Olympia, Washington.
A photographic project exploring grief, loss, remembrance, and reflection through paired portraits made before and after selected Death Dancer community activities.
Grief is unfamiliar territory, even for those who have experienced it before. It can be strange, uncomfortable, subtle, and difficult to understand. There is no prescribed way to experience it, no reliable measure of its impact, and no universal response to the things that bring us close to it.
Through two portraits of the same person, the project considers how we present ourselves in proximity to such a vulnerable subject, while leaving the experience itself private and unseen.
The Project
Interested in taking Part?