Persona of a Being
For this project, we found a space in the city that we connected with, and took a series of self portraits that illustrated the experience we had in the space. One of my favorite places in the city in the Jefferson Market Garden on 6th Avenue. It’s completely closed in, and is its own little world, full of life, both humans and nature. The space always seems to catch whatever sunshine is available to light up the life inside. While being there, I was stunningly aware of the nature – all of my senses were being drowned in the life around me. The sights, smells, sounds, and even touch of the flowers and people filled me up, and I was completely connected to my environment. I really tried to capture this connection to the light and life through the self portraits.
The persona that was created in this space was nothing more than just a being – a living thing – that is completely in touch and affected by the life that surrounds it. The being becomes elated by the growth of the surrounding plants, and feels growth itself from the presence of sunshine and nourishment. The summary I wrote for this persona explains the being in greater detail;
- Feeling and experiencing the beauty of nature is always a profound experience. The persona I discovered in Jefferson Market Garden is purely a being that is thoroughly connected to their surroundings. The garden is overflowing with life, both people and plants. This being thrives off the life in the garden, and glows with the overwhelming feelings that the energy of life creates. Each aspect of the garden produces a source of wonder and awe for the being. The colorful, beautiful, blossoming plants are in every direction, blooming and creating an explosive spectacle that brings the being to tears. The sunlight shining directly into the garden, nourishing and warming the environment fills the being and creates an inner glow. The growth of the trees and the flowers towards the sunshine likewise makes the being feel lifted and elated. The being fully experiences the life in each part of this park, acknowledging the beauty of the simplicity. These plants and sunshine that cannot even speak still display their liveliness, which in turn reminds the being that it can feel so alive even in the most simple of moments. Feeling aware and awake to the world around it, the being is transported back to the carefree glee and wonder of youth. The circular shape of the garden makes the being spin in order to feel completely surrounded and fueled by the presence of the life around her. In this space, nature alone is enough to create a world of beauty and wonder to be experienced and felt by one who is open to it. This being opens itself up and lets the environment fully affect their presence, becoming present and filled with awe by how beautiful and amazing nature can be.
My final film for the materialization of this character had to capture the connection this being had to its environment through the senses. Sunshine was a very prominent part of the experience, and represented the overall care and nourishment of nature that leads to growth. In the film I wanted to capture a lot of the growth of the plants and how it was mirrored and experienced through my own physical body. I felt this was the best way to show the connection the being had to the environment.
The film is called “Bloom”.