Acceptance
On a stormy evening in March 2023, I came across a beautiful broken branch from a Japanese cherry blossom tree and felt compelled to bring it home.
After some research, I realized the branch wouldn't grow any roots, so I decided to give it a chance to bloom, even if it was destined to wither. The branch inspired a series of photographs documenting the flowers and petals in various stages of life, from vibrant bloom to gradual decay, honoring the complete journey of their existence.
Encouraged by the results, I continued this exploration with flowers I found in the park near my flat, noticing the depth of emotions these images stirred within me.
They made me contemplate the feelings we often struggle to express, the disparity between our inner selves and the outward image we project. How do we reconcile these dual aspects within ourselves?
I came to understand that these flowers could serve as a symbolic way to illustrate what we often find difficult to express in everyday life. Simultaneously, I also photographed people as they believe best represent their outward image.
The combination of these two sets of images led to intriguing outcomes. To delve deeper, I initiated a video series, presenting the following reflective questions:
- Why did you choose that specific picture? How does it make you feel to look at it?
- Can you briefly describe your journey towards accepting your body, considering both your internal feelings and outer image?
- Imagine that your inner perception and your outer body can sit at a table and have a chat. What would they say to each other?
- Can you briefly describe your journey towards accepting your body, considering both your internal feelings and outer image?
- Imagine that your inner perception and your outer body can sit at a table and have a chat. What would they say to each other?
Joelle
I chose that specific picture because it was very much alive but there was also signs of its ultimate demise.
I liked the broken blossom as I hoped it had the most realistic possibility of growing new roots and regenerating.
I liked the broken blossom as I hoped it had the most realistic possibility of growing new roots and regenerating.
It made me feel hopeful but also realistic. All will change, it’s the rule of impermanence.
I feel younger at heart than I think I look in the mirror but I would tell myself not to care because ultimately there are signs of experience more wisdom.
I feel younger at heart than I think I look in the mirror but I would tell myself not to care because ultimately there are signs of experience more wisdom.
Impermanence is difficult to accept.
Watch the full interview here
Juliet
After I lost weight I needed time to get used to my body and accepting my new shape.
I used to dress with very baggy things just to cover my body a lot while now I have the confidence to dress has I want and feel good.
I used to dress with very baggy things just to cover my body a lot while now I have the confidence to dress has I want and feel good.
I normally use colourful things because they represent how I am feeling. In the past few years I've worked on my mind and my body so now I fell they're both aligned.
At the moment I feel happy, more confident and I am proud of what I've achieved through the time.
Watch the full interview here
Violetta
Looking at that picture made me think “this is me” because there's quite a lot of freshness in it
but, at the same time, it has already started growing a bit old and that's how I feel when
I look at my body sometimes.
but, at the same time, it has already started growing a bit old and that's how I feel when
I look at my body sometimes.
Accepting my body was a hell for a ride!
In my teenage years I had an eating disorder and after that there has been a very long, very
intense recovery process where I tried to figure out what my feelings are and why I project them
onto my body.
I definitely had to be in recovery for long years to be able to move closer towards
acceptance and I think it’s really just one day at a time.
Watch the full interview here
Ismael
I think internally sometimes you don't see yourself in the world as much but when you really own
a sense of self-acceptance - and for me I achieve this through movement and dance - I feel that
this is the body that I own and that I love.
a sense of self-acceptance - and for me I achieve this through movement and dance - I feel that
this is the body that I own and that I love.
I can control it, I can move it in ways that people don't expect and it makes me feel good.
I also found out that when I'm out in nature I feel I am where I'm supposed to be because it
doesn’t matter what people see or think of me, when I am outside I feel I simply exist, no matter what.
doesn’t matter what people see or think of me, when I am outside I feel I simply exist, no matter what.
Watch the full interview here
Stephen
I'm transgender and accepting my body has been a little bit of a journey.
Before my transition I intensely didn't like my body and I think accepting who I am
took a lot of work but it was really worth it.
Now I feel I am in my own body and feeling happy of your body is just an integral part of The Human Experience.
Watch the full interview here
Karolina
I chose this picture because parts of it seem to be wasted and scattered but they're equally beautiful.
It resembles the idea that everything has to be perfect but, if you take the not-so-nice parts and
readjust them it actually makes a nice and unique picture!
Accepting my body has been challenging, I am still on a journey.
I encounter challenges on a daily basis, I feel I need to be psychologically fine with myself, with
who I am and what I represent as a human being and then the body will follow. I am starting to like my
physical self a bit more too.
Watch the full interview here
Ish
I've been practicing being gentle and learning to open up a bit more whilst acknowledging the
impermanence of life.
impermanence of life.
As a queer person I feel we have to go through a metamorphosis to be able to learn to embrace ourself.
It's a process where initially most of us hate our bodies and then we learn
to feel safe in our bodies then we feel safe with our own communities and then, the last stage is to be safe
wherever you are.
Watch the full interview here
Sumit
I still struggle with the concept of acceptance of my body but I am grateful for it because over the
years my body has always been very kind to me, it has allowed me to do a lot of things
responding very nicely to every kind of effort I asked it to do.
years my body has always been very kind to me, it has allowed me to do a lot of things
responding very nicely to every kind of effort I asked it to do.
At the moment I am happy with how my inner self and outer self are correlated so I think they are
reinforcing each other in a similar way.
Watch the full interview here
Andrea
For a long time I didn’t accept my body.
When I was studying dancing I had to be super thin and follow certain standards and this mindset forced me to don't accept my body for a long time.
When I was studying dancing I had to be super thin and follow certain standards and this mindset forced me to don't accept my body for a long time.
When I stopped dancing I went through a journey of acceptance and even now there are difficult days.
It’s up and down and I’m not sure I reached a balance. But I think I made peace with my body. Mostly.
I am starting to like it!
Watch the full interview here
Silvia
I chose that picture because it embodied the whole part of the “tree-ish”.
There are branches, flowers and leaves full of life but a few petals are already falling.
There are branches, flowers and leaves full of life but a few petals are already falling.
It makes me feel that there is some sort of completeness and acceptance of the whole cycle of life.
A beginning and an ending.
Lately I am trying to improve the acceptance of my body mostly trusting my body and my
feelings, giving myself the chance to follow my gut a bit more.
I feel I am on a journey towards accepting the whole cycle inside of me, it includes all my fragilities,
all my strengths, basically everything!
I am trying to connect what I feel and experience physically
with what I experience mentally.
with what I experience mentally.
Watch the full interview here