In my series Conversations of Shared Vacancies, I demonstrate how my marriage has fostered a safe space to begin my journey of nonlinear healing. My imagery speaks to how my partner and I have learned to express our vulnerabilities intimately, and evolve from those traumatic experiences within our lives in order to grow into better versions of ourselves.
No individual person experiences the same process of healing, which is why it can be a difficult and sometimes lonely journey. There is no clear “Point A to Point B” scenario when it comes to evolving from traumatic circumstances. Humans have an amazing capacity to heal, whether that be physically or emotionally. We can tap into this ability more potently if we acknowledge that healing may not take the predictable, sequential route that might be expected. My video piece and poem, Sequential Failings, demonstrates this idea of nonlinear healing through the repetition of steps and battling the inner self through my daily routines. As a glimpse into the lives of two once-broken people mending their wounds together, this series documents not just one individual person’s trauma, but healing from a collection of shared experiences through self portraiture with my partner.
Conversations of Shared Vacancies captures the subtle confrontations of trauma amidst learning to live presently together with nods to Romantic and Neoclassical artists like Angelica Kauffman, particularly through color palettes, lighting, and metaphoric symbolism such as the use of recurring daisies that symbolize the loss of innocence. Making my work has aided in my journey of healing as it has been a tool to allow for deeper, more thorough introspection. Many individuals are left to process their grief in silence and I would like viewers to be able to connect emotionally with my work and reflect on their own experiences.
