Interactive narrative about science and nature.
This project is an interactive visual story inspired by a nature or science news story. Based on the Bioluminescence on Holbox Beach, Mexico. I developed a narrative that combines images and text, integrating the interactivity component by asking people on the internet through an anonymous survey to write down their thoughts on the topic of the burden, and I wrote their answers on my bedroom wall with fluorescent paint.
This work was created as part of an assignment for Story Visualized: Text and Image Lab in the MFA Visual Narrative program at The School of Visual Arts.
This phenomenon is caused when millions of phytoplankton (small micro-algae particles that float on the ocean surface) are agitated by waves or nearby swimming fish’s movements, producing a magical blue light.
The chemical reactions generated within the phytoplankton bodies cause the luciferase enzyme to be activated by the luciferin compound, and this reaction between the two of them is responsible for creating the blue light that glows in the dark.
Two weeks ago, I had a therapy session, and I told the therapist that lately I have felt pressured when making art, and that even though I like it, it doesn't feel as enjoyable as it used to. I don't remember the exact phrase she said, but she said “burden.” From the moment I heard that phrase, I knew it would be the project’s theme.
Daily, we carry our burdens and worries, but with the distractions and responsibilities that life brings when we are in our space, our room in the dark, those thoughts that haunt us deeply are more visible.
“I want to win the lottery”
My concern is money and the only solution is playing the lottery, no matter that I have several jobs I feel that the money does not give me the lifestyle I want, no matter how much I collect and my misery at work I feel that to buy a house is 90 years from now, so I think the quickest solution to generate money fast is winning the lottery, buy a house or a building and put it for rent and that I generate money until my last days :V. Obviously, to play the lottery, you have to do it responsibly because many people get crazy and get into debt. my motivation is a girl who won 71 million pesos at 21 years old and played the lottery for only 6 months. There are people who play their whole life and don't get a single peso, I hope not to be one of those, and my goal is to win the lottery between now and December with a secret strategy!
Mi preocupación es el dinero y la única solución es jugando la loteria, no importa que tenga varios trabajo siento que el dinero no me da para el estilo de vida que quiero, no importa cuanto reuna y de mi miseria de trabajo siento que para comprar una casa es de aqui a 90 años, por eso pienso que la solución mas rapida para generar dinero rapido es ganando la loteria, comprar una casa o un edificio y ponerlo en alquiler y que me genere dinero hasta mis ultimos tiempos :V. Obvio, para jugar la lotería hay que hacerlo de manera responsable, ya que muchas personas se alocan y se endeudan. Mi motivación es una chica que ganó 71 millones de pesos con 21 años y duró jugando la loto solo 6 meses. Hay personas que juegan su vida entera y ni un peso se sacan… Yo espero no ser una de esas y mi meta es ganar la lotería de aquí a diciembre con una estrategia secreta!
“The desire for meaning is life's greatest burden”
The desire for meaning is life's greatest burden. The family connection and their feelings is #2.
El deseo de sentido es la mayor carga de la vida. La conexión con la familia y sus sentimientos es el #2.
“When responsibilities are not aligned with our purposes”
De la forma en la que yo lo veo es que en esta vida hay un tema de roles, cada uno ha aceptado o elegido el suyo, ya sea de manera consciente o inconsciente, Luego viene el trabajo, en donde continuamos asumiendo retos. En todos estos peldaños de la vida vamos asumiendo responsabilidades que vienen ya con el paquete de la vida, con la dignidad de vivir. El regalo de estar. Esto puede sonar muy de libro de autoayuda, pero así es como lo veo. En esas responsabilidades que vamos asumiendo, se mueven cosas de manera interna dentro del individuo; aquel trabajo del que se sentía feliz de haberlo conseguido ya hoy le resulta tormentoso estar en él y hacer lo que siempre hace allí; cuesta más de lo que se cree. Justo allí es cuando comienzan a aparecer luces de que hay algunas cosas que no están alineadas con nuestro propósito de vida. Hay responsabilidades que dejan de serlo por cómo nos sentimos cuando las realizamos y hay responsabilidades que dejan de ser responsabilidad por los tratos internos que hacemos consigo mismos para lograr algo a posteriori. Pero cuando se intenta cumplir con una responsabilidad que no está alineada con nuestro propósito de vida ni pertenece a una negociación propia, entonces se está haciendo nada, hacer por hacer, intentar cumplir por cumplir, ahí viene en desgaste la bajada de energías, la pérdida de la atención, empatía, sinergia, el llamado agobio.
In this life, there is a subject of roles; each one has accepted or chosen his role, either consciously or unconsciously; then comes the work, where we continue assuming challenges. In all these life steps, we take on responsibilities that come with the package of life, with the dignity of living. The gift of being. This may sound like a self-help book, but that's how I see it. In the responsibilities we are assuming, things move internally within the individual. The job that once made him happy to have achieved is now tormenting him, and he finds it difficult to do what he always does there; it costs more than he had thought. That's when lights begin to appear, and some things are not aligned with our life purpose. Some responsibilities cease because of how we feel when we perform them, and some duties cease because of the internal deals we make with ourselves to achieve something later. But when we try to fulfill a responsibility that is not aligned with our life purpose, nor belongs to our negotiation, then we are doing nothing, doing for the sake of doing, trying to fulfill for the sake of fulfilling; then comes the wear and tear, the lowering of energies, the loss of attention, empathy, synergy, the so-called overwhelm.
“Uncertainty stops me from moving forward”
Uncertainty and something that stops me from moving forward, that feels like it will never end anytime soon.
La Incertidumbre y es algo que me impide avanzar y parece que no acabará pronto.
Being the eldest daughter of a family is one of the heaviest burdens known to man, in my opinion. We're literally born into responsibilities both because of our age and our gender. We are de facto given the role of pseudo-parent whenever the real parents aren't around, regardless of what we think. It's a lot of pressure to deal with, and, if I'm being honest, is probably the reason why my relationship with my younger sibling is not as well as it could be.
En mi opinión, ser la hija mayor de una familia es una de las cargas más pesadas que se conocen. Nacemos literalmente con responsabilidades, tanto por nuestra edad como por nuestro género. Se nos asigna el papel de pseudopadres cuando los verdaderos padres no están, independientemente de lo que pensemos. Es mucha presión con la que lidiar y, si soy sincera, probablemente sea la razón por la que mi relación con mi hermano pequeño no es todo lo buena que podría haber sido.
I feel like a constant burden to my loved ones. I can not shake this awful feeling :/
Me siento como una carga constante para mis seres queridos. No puedo deshacerme de este horrible sentimiento :/
“Whatever takes me away from making art, I try to reframe them but stil”.
I think burdens are whatever takes me away from art-making. I try to reframe them into responsibilities or social engagements, but sometimes, they still feel like burdens
Creo que las cargas son lo que me aleja de la creación artística. Intento reformularlas como responsabilidades o compromisos sociales, pero a veces siguen pareciéndome cargas.
