Thomas Duffield: Poppy Promises

Thomas Duffield – Poppy Promises

Witty Books

Thomas Duffield’s Poppy Promises examines the long process of rebuilding a relationship with his father following years of estrangement caused by addiction. Made over nine years, the project alternates between portraiture and symbolic still life, creating a rhythm that reflects the instability and emotional weight often present in families negotiating recovery.

Duffield documents not only his father but also the wider impact of addiction on the family unit. The work draws attention to the role of his mother, whose presence shaped the household during his father’s absence. This expanded perspective gives the series a quiet steadiness, acknowledging the many forms of labour and care embedded within the narrative.

Excerpts from text messages between father and son appear throughout the book, providing an additional register in which humour, tension and vulnerability coexist. These written fragments introduce a conversational intimacy that supports the visual sequence without overwhelming it.

Poppy Promises offers a considered study of reconciliation. Its strength lies in the measured way it presents the complexities of familial repair, avoiding sentimentality while maintaining a clear sense of personal investment.

112 pages
Hardcover