Let Go

Worries, burdens and insecurities: they are a little bit like balloons. They are disconnected from the being and yet they are always hovering nearby. They trail and stalk you. They can tie you down from conquering the world. But you have the power to undo yourself, to let go. So free yourself. Today.

Inspiration

My main inspiration came from the soundtrack of Garden State. I was introduced to an artist called Frou Frou by this movie and the song  "Let Go" became the soundtrack to this project.

"drink up, baby down

mmm, are you in or are you out

leave your things behind

'cause it's all going off without you

excuse me, too busy you're writing your tragedy

these mishaps

you bubble wrap

when you've no idea what you're like

so let go, jump in

oh well, whatcha waiting for

it's alright

'cause there's beauty in a breakdown

so let go, just get in

oh, it's so amazing here

it's alright

'cause there's beauty in the breakdown

it gains the more it gives

and then it rises with the fall

so hand me that remote

can't you see that all that stuff's a slideshow

such boundless pleasure

so we've no time for later now

you can't await your own arrival

you've 20 seconds to comply

so let go, just jump in

oh well, whatcha waiting for

it's alright

'cause there's beauty in a breakdown

so let go, just get in

oh, it's so amazing here

it's alright

'cause there's beauty in the breakdown"

These lyrics remind me that once in a while, everyone lets go of their emotions, worries, past and regrets - and they just break down. It's human and it's natural. I think that in a breakdown, people accept what they are feeling and are therefore no longer in denial and letting go of their repressed fear resulting in the ability to move on.  The words "boundless pleasure" remind me of the sky, and there is pleasure from the relief of letting go.

Frou Frou

Garden State screenshot

"I came here with a load and it feels so much lighter since I met you." - Green Eyes/Coldplay

The photos

Location: Sarawan Ville, Thailand

The entanglement of the balloons represents the complexity of the mind and the links between worries. These links may fuel and exacerbate problems or provide sudden relief.

The worries, insecurities and past are always a physical load as it is tied to the body and represses and tires the person.

To further pursue this project, I could photograph people (families, couples, friends, students, athletes, workers) functioning in their normal, daily lives but with balloons tied to them.