The Proberts (2019)

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‘You ever been to the Bronx? This is the Bronx.’ Says Ginge as he welcomes me with open arms into his everyday family life. The Proberts live on the outskirts of Cardiff, in an industrial zone near the Celsa steel smelter, off Rover Way, where a small set of houses come together officially designated ‘Balloon Estate’. Every visit starts with a cup of instant coffee with milk, Ginge always calling me ‘Canada’. Then it’s usually off to catering to the horses, strapped along the roadside near by. 

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A small home that’s shared by interweaving generations. Fleeting interactions and banter. A testament to the overlooked significance of communal experience that many of us have gone through, a reminiscing need to relive and witness scenarios outside the confinements of memory. Ginge and Boo Boo’s walls are filled with photos of relatives and friends, encapsulations of dear memories and milestones. In a culture where movement was at the epicenter, the physicality of the photograph forges a sense of cherishment that remains. Ultimately, it is a dedication to the whole Probert family and friends, their warmth, Ginge and Boo Boo’s humour, generosity and openness, to exemplify their honourable traits, and transforming a reciprocal feeling into a nuanced family album through a repeated process layered with dignity, tenderness, humility and respect.