THIRD PLACE WINNER - Open Category: Self-Portrait (AMATEUR)
Broken
Photo © Venise Abell
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Broken. It is a term defined as something fractured or damaged, no longer in one piece or in working order. In the case of a broken person, one who has given up all hope. Many synonyms of the word broken can be used to convey an image or message, for example fragmented, shattered or splintered.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a mental illness resulting from exposure to extreme or terrifying events and experiences. Those of us suffering from this illness may have recurring memories or flashbacks of an event or experience which evokes intense emotions and often brings guilt and shame. Other symptoms are sleeplessness, loss of interest, feeling numb, stress, and anxiety, which can cause irritability, anger or rage. PTSD can be a very disruptive force in a person's life. In a sense, a person feels broken.
My recent work has focused on narratives taken from life experiences in regard to family, community issues, and a past naval career. The camera has always been the tool through which these stories could be shared. Through the use of image and object making, a variety of materials and processes are now used to portray the narratives.
In this work, a life cast of my face serves as the referential body part. The series of photographs of the cast is digitally manipulated through textures, backgrounds, and colors to create a surrealist style and then merged with photos from deployment. Keeping in mind the symptoms of PTSD and the synonyms of the word broken, the body of work are composed to convey feelings of emotional brokenness.
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Broken. It is a term defined as something fractured or damaged, no longer in one piece or in working order. In the case of a broken person, one who has given up all hope. Many synonyms of the word broken can be used to convey an image or message, for example fragmented, shattered or splintered.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a mental illness resulting from exposure to extreme or terrifying events and experiences. Those of us suffering from this illness may have recurring memories or flashbacks of an event or experience which evokes intense emotions and often brings guilt and shame. Other symptoms are sleeplessness, loss of interest, feeling numb, stress, and anxiety, which can cause irritability, anger or rage. PTSD can be a very disruptive force in a person's life. In a sense, a person feels broken.
My recent work has focused on narratives taken from life experiences in regard to family, community issues, and a past naval career. The camera has always been the tool through which these stories could be shared. Through the use of image and object making, a variety of materials and processes are now used to portray the narratives.
In this work, a life cast of my face serves as the referential body part. The series of photographs of the cast is digitally manipulated through textures, backgrounds, and colors to create a surrealist style and then merged with photos from deployment. Keeping in mind the symptoms of PTSD and the synonyms of the word broken, the body of work are composed to convey feelings of emotional brokenness.
BACK TO GALLERY
