Photo Series: In Between Echoes: Nostalgia and New Horizons

 

In Between Echoes: Nostalgia and New Horizons

Inspiration

My photo series was inspired by Ana Mendieta’s “Earth Body” works, she was able to use natural elements and the landscapes surrounding her to create her art. From Her work I was inspired to follow the themes of displacement and unfamiliar surroundings. “As an immigrant, Mendieta felt a disconnect in the United States. The trauma of being uprooted from her Cuban homeland as a girl would leave her with questions about her identity and make her more conscious of being a woman of color.” In contrast to Ana, I was much younger when I was uprooted from my homeland, too young to remember anything. When I meet others from my own country it is hard to relate to them. I am an outsider, not growing up surrounded by my culture and ancestry has affected me a lot and made me feel shameful for it.

Explanation

    The field represents my ties to my heritage; it is a place that is supposed to evoke feelings of familiarity, warmth, and longing—a place that brings back memories of my native country. In the meantime, the far-off outline of the New York City skyline symbolizes my new surroundings, to which I have adapted but yet feel detached or yearn for a life I could have had in a different situation. My presence in these settings creates a link between the known and the unknown, the past and the present. A story of longing and discovery is created by the contrast between my lack of recollections from my own country and my desire to comprehend and connect with my history.

    It as well becomes a visual expression of disconnect within my family enviornment. It depicts a sensation of alienation or estrangement, crossing the line between desiring to connect to my roots and not feeling connected to the experiences and memories that my family has in common.When I sit down and think about it sometimes, it feels like my family has lived a different life—one that I was not a part of. It can be really painful and alienating. It's a distinct kind of separation in which ties to one's family appear to be practically entwined with an alternate world that I haven't personally encountered. Growing apart from my siblings who grew up in a different culture and not meeting them till I was twelve and five, for most of my life made me feel like an only child growing up.

    In my photographs I am laying down/standing in the “motherland”. It represents my ties to my homeland, as though I'm assimilating the spirit of my ancestry. The endless, open expanse of my own country and the busy, metropolitan reality of my current surroundings are contrasted in the sky above, where birds are soaring against the backdrop of the city skyline. In One of The photographs the birds symbolize my own experience of migration and adjustment. It captures the notion of moving to a new location and navigating the unknown, much like birds fly great distances to find new homes or destinations. Inspired by Ana Mendieta’s quote “It is a way of reclaiming my roots and becoming one with nature. Although the culture in which I live is part of me, my roots and cultural identity are a result of my Cuban heritage.”

    Additionally it is symbolic of the desire for adventure, independence, and a sense of belonging. As well as the desire for some sort of link between my history and the present, between my origins and my goals in this new place. An additional depth of meaning is added by the surrounding river. Rivers frequently represent time passing, continuity, and life's flow. In this instance, it represents the persistence of my ancestry, despite my feelings of disconnection from it. My photo series gains depth from this symbolism, which enables viewers to understand and relate to the feelings and experiences related to migration, adaptation, and the search for a sense of identity. In this instance, the leaves covering my face and enveloping my body represent the melding and integrating with the surroundings. Nature. It represents my relationship to the natural world, reflects on the relationship between one's self and the environment, or even offers a remark on how humans view and engage with our environment.

    Even while I long to explore the depths of my culture and find the connections between the stories of my family, I am incredibly appreciative of my current situation. Looking back on my journey, I see that my path might have taken a different turn if I had been in my native country. As stated by John Berger, “The way we see things is affected by what we know or what we believe”.I've embraced a world of art and music here, in this vibrant cultural tapestry I've found myself in, that would not have been as accessible elsewhere. This place's beat and the melodies of its artwork have become the background music of my life. If I were from somewhere else, this tune might be different. I would be a completely different person with different beliefs and perspectives. Who am I in this alternate universe? I may never know. No one exactly knows.. I'm humbled by the special symphony of experiences this area has given me, even as I long to discover the history and legends of my native country. The mosaic of my journey is shaped by the combination of these divergent potentials, which makes me grateful for where I am.

Process Of Creating Photo Series

My process throughout this series was not quite easy, at first I was having a difficult time trying to think of which Idea I wanted to portray or if it was good enough. In the end I ended up thinking about Ana Mendieta and Frida Kahlo’s themes of being an immigrant. My photo series, which symbolizes migration and the desire for connection, made me think about Berger's investigation of the ways in which images have multiple meanings that can be interpreted in various ways depending on personal experiences and cultural contexts. He places emphasis on the ways in which our upbringing and exposure to society norms influence our perspectives. I wanted to wear my hoodie that is merchandise from Bladee because It is the artist that introduced me to so much of the music I listen to right now and ties in with the culture I am a part of in this country. I wanted to include a piece of myself into the homeland side. In my photographs the river, birds and leaves were photoshopped by me. I wanted to add those elements to make it feel like a different place from where I am…. A foreign land that is so close to a city area.

Difference

The difference between this final project and my first selfie posts is that I was able to push myself out of my comfort zone by going into a public space. By using an environment as a place and idea I wanted to portray. As well as creating two different “universes” that the viewers can Invision. Going in deeper with my self identity and how I perceive it.

Quotes Used & References

“As an immigrant, Mendieta felt a disconnect in the United States. The trauma of being uprooted from her Cuban homeland as a girl would leave her with questions about her identity and make her more conscious of being a woman of color.”

“It is a way of reclaiming my roots and becoming one with nature. Although the culture in which I live is part of me, my roots and cultural identity are a result of my Cuban heritage.”

Castillo, M. (2018, September 19). Overlooked no more: Ana Mendieta, a Cuban artist who pushed boundaries. The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2018/09/19/obituaries/ana-mendieta-overlooked.html

“The way we see things is affected by what we know or what we believe”

Chapter 1, Berger, John. Ways of seeing. Penguin Classics, 2008.