My siblings' strong involvement meant the camera acted as a collaborative tool to bring all my family and myself into the frame. This uncovered multiple perspectives on being young and the importance of family in traditional and non-traditional forms. The imagery coaxes beauty in small moments while mirroring the tenderness between family members. In addition, it served as a medium of exchange: what I have read, felt, thought, seen, and remembered translated into a new form of self-representation that combined intuitive and performative gestures with a candid showcase of interactions. Overall, the goal of this photo project was to provide a visual representation of the strong bonds and intimate relationships within my family, particularly among siblings who have shared experiences and memories of growing up together.
The proximity to the body and skin expresses the physical tie and co-dependence of being young and emotionally attached to family. The spatial positioning of the subjects and the distance or closeness to the events displayed all contribute to how the body appears in the image and how we encounter it. One important concept to consider is feminism, which plays a crucial role in shaping our understanding of gender and representation, and whether they reproduce traditional gender roles and stereotypes. This can be particularly interesting from a psychological perspective, as it can reveal how family dynamics shape individual identities.
As an emerging artist, I engage and connect to people and their experiences and how this can offer room for relatability and involvement with others. By presenting these images in a cohesive collection, I invite viewers to reflect on their own experiences of family and intimacy and consider how these relationships shape our lives. This work is for me, my family, and everyone. Rooted in family connection, these images are equally charged and linked to individual and collective experiences. I want one to consider the contrasting emotions that may surge as some images appear darkened and veiled, confusing or melancholic but alive and serene.
There is something solitary in my work, even though most of it is about people. By creating a more varied outlook on modern experiences of children and families, I aim to create images that are not only visually compelling but also prompt critical thinking and reflection. Today, my project can make a difference by highlighting the power of visual storytelling to communicate and evoke emotions that transcend language barriers and proximity, connecting audiences through imagery. I explored the boundaries between fine conceptual art and cinematography through portraiture, landscape and journalistic techniques, demonstrated in a sensitive and intimate style.
