Humans have always been obsessed with youth and being young forever. Our natural fear of death makes us want to stop time and not look at the marks it leaves on our bodies. If we don’t see age we can trick ourselves in believing death is still far away. A large industry has been built around this fear, offering all kinds of treatments that promise us youth, or at least the look of it.
Nowadays we are confronted with an enormous flow of images. We choose to focus on beauty and youth and ignore the image of ageing. We don’t want to be confronted with it. It reminds us of mortality and the fragility of our existence.
But not showing it doesn’t make impermanence less real. Already before we are born the process of ageing starts, it is natural and unstoppable. Everything around us, including ourselves will eventually decay. So why not embrace it and see the beauty of the cycle of life?
“It is not impermanence that makes us suffer. What makes us suffer is wanting things to be permanent when they are not.”
Let me flow in your arms And give me your silence Your calmness Your determination
What do you see when I look at you?
To explore the relation between humans and nature I followed the river, observed and interacted with it. Together we created an image that represents our connection. Since we are all connected, it is a portrait of both the river and me.
