There is a fundamental truth that we are part of the world. A moving, breathing, chatting, thinking part perhaps, and one that may make strange and difficult choices, but part all the same.
This term in our design unit we have been investigating this theme of belonging, kinship to the more-than-human, moments of coming home to ourselves, the places and people we feel truly at home in, where we know we belong, not just to a group, but to the world. We have been discussing ceremonial practices that help us feel ourselves in connection and through this imagining our own ceremonies and celebrations that bring us home.
Visual storytelling is an ancient language that weaves itself across cultural and linguistic divides. We have explored this language and asked, how can we tell a story of coming into belonging, what story do we want to tell about healing home?
Rose created a series of work called, Rebirthing. Their core concept was a story of healing. The power of nature to heal and the power of being at home in the world to heal. Rose writes, “For me, finding home is knowing you can use your voice, be yourself, and no one is going to shut me down.” Rose’s triptych aimed to tell a story of cleansing and releasing of things that have been oppressive and disconnecting and a coming into a joyful sense of belonging.
They shot this series in Wentworth Falls on a warmish, windy day. The images speak for themselves. The joy of watching Rose tell their story in place, of framing their vision and performing their ceremony was beyond what could be captured. The water was freezing, but in true Rose fashion, they jumped in anyway.
I think you can see it in the final image, the defiance and joy of being bravely at home and how it opens you to the world.
