Unable to perceive the shape of you, I find you all around me.
Your presence fills my eyes with your love.
It humbles my heart, for you are everywhere.
Rocks shaped from the sea into the form of bodies or creatures. Our water morphs us like the rocks, makes us beautiful and one with it. When stepping into the water, everything stays behind us. The sounds of the sea dominate and silence all the sounds of life. Our breath synchronises with that of the waves, and just like that, the body prepares for its plunge into the water, the stillness, the Blue Mind.
My graduation project ‘Blue Mind’ is based on the book ‘Blue Mind’ by Dr. Wallace J. Nichols, an oceanologist, author and activist. His main goal is to inspire a deeper connection with nature, specifically with water.
In his book, Wallace recites stories from different members of society and how the sea helped them overcome problems from psychological to financial. Alongside these stories are conversations between neurologists, psychologists and creatives who together strive to answer certain questions that the theory raises. Throughout, Nichols proves how his theory can be applied to any field, such as health, education, general care, arts, architecture, design, travel and sports.
Water has great benefits for our mind, body and soul.
It relaxes us, makes us one with ourselves, those around us and our planet. We become more productive, calm and sympathetic. It makes us happier and better at whatever we do.
When we find ourselves near, in, on or under water, we feel a huge emotional wellness. Specifically, when we stand at the water's edge for that is when our visual, auditory and physical experience is simplified completely. The sound of the water dominates all the noises of life. Our heart rate slows down, our breathing rate slows down and our body temperature drops. No more signs, screens, sounds. Far from the noise, all visual distractions vanish. We gain a sense of immunity that supports us and calms us down. Despite all this, in everyday life, we find ourselves under the grasp of a different theory at play, the Red Mind.
Audio, visual overstimulation, anxiety, stress and destruction. When we accept living under this function, we might even be led to adopt Grey Mind, exhaustion, mental and physical breakdowns and depression. The Blue Mind can be achieved quickly through the simple act of having a shower, sitting by a fountain, river or stream. Even watching a video of the sea or listening to a playlist with the sound of the waves brings us closer to Blue Mind.
My photography project Blue Mind brings to light this condition. The relationship between man and water, sea and natural landscapes. We travelled to Tinos, Paros and the beaches of Athens each time with different personalities, shores and waters. The photography was taken by a medium format analog camera and Instax FujiFilm.
The goal, to capture the relationships between man and a natural landscape which has been morphed by the sea.
The sea, the wind and salt all work together to mould the rocks in a marvellous way, creating figures and creatures which sometimes even look like us.
And just like the rock, man, when near the sea, is sculpted to become one with it.