seed of pain

i recently completed a series of art genre street photographs based on the concept of highs and lows in our society. please see the gallery section of my site to view the series in its entirety.

My inspiration for the Seed of Pain series came from an experience that profoundly changed my outlook on life just over two years ago. This was not from a brush with death or anything quite so dramatic, in fact it was through something as simple as reading a book. A New Earth by Eckhart Tolle contained truths that spoke volumes to me about the state of human consciousness and the patterns of repetitive thought people get caught up in. It explained the general sense of dissatisfaction and unease we can feel as we strive for happiness. This pleasure seeking blocks out the perceived pain of life in the mind of the ego, but every high inevitably leads to a low. This allows the endless cycle of human suffering to continue. 

The contemporary issues in society as a result of binge drinking and drug taking are a part of this pleasure and pain pendulum. Why do many use both legal and illegal substances to enhance, relax, speed up or temporarily slow down the mind? In this series I endeavour to capture both sides of the coin and hold a mirror up to society reflecting the current situation. The photographs show a variety of people caught up in the moment, whether it be their high or low state. A story of lost inhibitions is repeatedly told in the Seed of Pain series as facets of personality that are normally hidden or subdued are revealed. The characters and their scenarios may evoke memories from the spectator, who could relate to these moments. 

Digital exposures were taken using a Leica V-Lux 2 for its compact design and quality lens. Images are 16:9 format to extend the landscape orientation and draw the viewer in, as with modern cinematography.
The platform for Seed of Pain is printed postcards, to be housed within ‘Avant Card’ (www.avantcard.com.au) racks displayed in public venues. Postcards come with a set of stickers and each has lyrics from The Beatles hit ‘With a Little Help from My Friends’ (1967, Lennon & McCartney). The spectator then places these on the postcard/s of their choice. It’s a song that questions the role of friendship, in the form of conversation. Coupled with the postcards, they ask: ‘What’s really going on in their mind?’.