‘Of course I’m scared’: people confront their final days

Sibylle Fendt’s intimate photographs of terminally ill patients and their carers were inspired by the death of her own husband – a period in which she experienced pain, tenderness and love

‘Of course I’m scared’: people confront their final days

TL;DR

  • Sibylle Fendt's photographic series captures individuals in their final stage of life, at home with family and friends.
  • The work aims to create openness, closeness, and compassion around the societal taboo of death.
  • Photographs offer intimate insights into the final moments of life, interweaving pain, tenderness, and love.
  • Personal accounts from Fendt, Chris, Köhler, Christa, Mrs. Schiller, Schiller’s daughter, and Günther Stanzl are included.
  • The accounts describe experiences of caregiving, acceptance of dying, and the emotional impact of loss.
  • Fendt's husband, Hendrik, passed away at home, an experience she reflects on in the context of her work.
  • The series explores themes of saying goodbye, memory, and the desire for a society that values care and support.