The body possess endless potential. It grows and forms as we live in this world. Innate settings and environmental factors all take their part in how we develop and what our bodies end up being. So we make our choices and experience the consequences. The culture also makes its choices. A moment of realization comes when we stand in contrast to another.
The Buddha and Greek Warrior demonstrate contrast. They are both fully grown. The choices they've made and directions they've taken with their lives are on display. Their cultures are also exemplified. The Buddha has lived a life of inward meditation and has achieved a peace in his own body. The Greek warrior has lived a life of outward strength and has developed a body that is built for war. Their potentials have been formed and realized. Next to each other, we can see how far apart they have grown.
When considering what the body is, I think of potential. So many choices, so many directions. With an endless variety to deal with, I decided to not pick a figure with its potentials developed. I thought of a human in its infancy. Unfortunately, I do not readily have access to a young child. Instead I decided to experience what a baby might experience. So I crawled on the floor and tried to re-conceptualize the discovery of my body and its movements. The above shot is me coming to terms. Though in reality I am fully formed, in my mind I have endless potential still.
I appreciated that you crawled around on the floor and tried to embody the experience of being a new child. Maybe unintentionally, however, this photo reminds me of death. Especially when one considers that you 'shot' yourself lying on the floor, there seems to me an underlying sense of murder.
ReplyDeleteThe muted colors bring out the sense of stillness in the photo. I can almost hear you breathing as I look at the picture.
ReplyDeleteThe stillness really comes through well in this, especially with the flat, white-ish background. You look like you've just woken up and you could do pretty much anything. I'm not sure about the choice of clothing, though. The typical 'student' look makes me think of collapsing to the floor after a long finals week....
ReplyDeletethe parallel between the body and mind is fantastic. You look so calm, and the idea of being "formed" is conveyed very well. I like this one a lot.
ReplyDeleteI'm sad that you don't have access to a small child. They're good people.
ReplyDeleteYour picture reminds me of the rest after a hard run and contemplation.
i love how this is your realization. It is almost as if you are overwhelmed with coming to terms with yourself. I also enjoy how your interpretation differs from the initial reaction one would have to the picture. One would think you are dead in the picture but when you read the description you realize it is more like you are dead until you realize your full potential.
ReplyDeleteThe atmosphere is very womb-esque. I like how you used your grown form in contrast to the environment of a solitary, developmental womb. It is like a depiction of your potential that you have before you were even born. Compelling contrast and intriguing irony.
ReplyDeleteInteresting idea portrayed. I feel like your pose and the explination you gave created an interesting irony in my mind- you are laying on the ground, almost lifeless, when there is so much potential for movement and life. very niiice.
ReplyDeleteI really like the concept of unrealized potential that you are working with. I think it is especially relevant to the 21st century because now, more than ever, the options and choices overwhelm people. Also, the fact that it is a self portrait also goes to show how it isn't ever too late to being striving after unreached potential. That wouldn't have been communicated if you had used a child.
ReplyDeleterogelio, i admire you for crawling on the floor just to capture the essence of infancy... i'm intrigued by the stillness of the body while it's in the midst of a deep breath. it's kind of creepy though, that the body almost looks like its dead--pretty ironic.
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