Working
title: Nightmare
Précis
In this body of work, I want to show what
it is like to have sleep paralysis in the visual representation.
Rationale
Sleep is an action that every person does
without any exception. You cannot choose how to sleep or what to dream, it is
something that cannot be controlled by consciousness. There are many sleep
disorders that can occur, but I am particularly interested in sleep paralysis.
Sleep paralysis is common, but
under-research phenomenon. Many people experienced it at least once in their
life. There are many legends and stories about sleep paralysis. People used to
say that witches and demons are trying to steal their souls or more recent
stories say that they have been abducted by aliens. However according to recent
studies it has nothing to do with demons or aliens. It is a normal thing that
may happen to everyone, but due to the fact that I have experienced it myself I
cannot deny that it is one of the scariest things that can occur.
Sleep paralysis is a transient period of
awakening from sleep during which the subject is unable to move or speak. You
can feel the surroundings, people talking but cannot do anything. Some people
even have hallucinations, which feel extremely realistic. Sleep paralysis isn’t
dangerous, but inability to move can be very frightening.
This project represents the feelings that
people have during sleep paralysis. It starts with the fear of something unknown
coming, something that lives in your own head, but still is able to scare you.
It fallows by realisation that your body is paralysed and it won’t move even
how hard you try to do it. Everything that happens during sleep paralysis is
just in your own head. Things that you see can only scare you and no matter how
hard you try to scream and shout for help nobody can hear you. Your voice is
silenced and you are left on your own to fight it.
Aims & Objectives
Due to the fact that sleep paralysis is
under-researched phenomenon I want to show to audience what it is, to introduce
it to people who have never experienced it. It is also aimed at individuals,
who have experienced that, so they can easily pick up on symbolism and relate
to it.
It is a project, which can be displayed in
the gallery.
Overview
For this project I needed a model, studio
and medium format camera.
Summary
I believe that this project was successful,
even though I just had 6 weeks to start and to finish it. I enjoyed working on
this project, my chosen topic is something that I am interested in and have my
own experience. My final images are very close to the owns I saw in my head.
Things that I would do differently if I
needed to take this project again: firstly, I thing that more test shoots would
have helped to make this project better. Secondly, for my final images I chose
a safe environment. In studio it was easier to control the lights and
surroundings. So I would try do it in the location.
Overall, I consider that I did the best
that I could with what I had in this space of time.
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