A Fleeting Moment of Harmony
Kailum Graves
- Sitter: Kailum Graves
- Medium: Photograph
- Dimensions: 62 x 62cm
- Representation: This artist represents themselves
- Categories: Digital
About the artwork and sitter
Each day I try to do something for my mind, my body, my soul. I do this so that I can (hopefully) fall asleep at night without uncontrolled thoughts. Post-traumatic stress disorder and the feeling of loneliness are linked, especially between childhood trauma and adult loneliness. To try and overcome this feeling, I stand before showering for a minute in front of the mirror looking at myself. Sometimes I take a photo. I do this to connect with my body and overcome the feeling of disconnect I have with the world around me. To try and calm my mind. To quiet my anxiety. To nurture my mind, my body, my soul. To exist for a fleeting moment in harmony.
About the artist
Kailum Graves uses different media and photographic methods—from appropriation to pixel and data manipulation—to create still and moving image projects that reflect the influence of technology on the photographic medium and sit resolutely within the context of future movements of contemporary photography.
“This artwork documents a daily ritual which is a part of a larger treatment plan. Sharing it is also an attempt to stop hiding behind a wall of shame and embarrassment.”
Behind the scenes
My childhood and adolescent years had long-lasting consequences on my perception of self, yet I never spoke about my childhood, not even with the people closest to me. I was embarrassed and ashamed. Instead, I expressed myself through art (as cliché as that sounds). However, a few things recently happened that were the culmination of a lifetime of pain.
To deal with this I wrote a timeline of my existence, commenced psychology, as well as Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing therapy for people with complex post-traumatic stress disorder. This artwork documents a daily ritual which is a part of a larger treatment plan. Sharing it is also an attempt to stop hiding behind a wall of shame and embarrassment.
