NERVE RINGS

don’t you ever think there’s more than this? that if you stepped out of reality you would see it for what it truly is

can you not feel it?

the tug on your soul

the significance of it?

someday i’ll understand it

but i’m not here to stay

and it’s for the best

maybe dreaming is the closest we can get to enlightenment

or death

the closest we can get to understanding ourselves

what i’m scared of

what i feel

the whistle in the breeze isn’t in your head

its a paradox, every night, open your mind.

the thump in the dark is real

it is not your enemy

listen

it is telling you something

Continuing from PARASOMNIA, this project explores my complicated relationship with parasomnias, (sleep disturbances) including night terrors, sleep paralysis, sleep walking, and nightmares. As terrifying as these experiences can be, they always teach me something, or give me creative inspiration, using my subconscious as a tool like this is a deeply emotional process, rationalising my feelings and circumstances by turning them into a visual narrative has become a gratifying catharsis for me. Adapted dream journal entries cover dark yet ethereal scenes, there is harmony between the words and images, just like there is harmony between myself and my parasomnias, i’m at peace with them. the strong fantasy element comes from a childhood interest, ideas of escapism and romanticism, themes present in my dreams and nightmares. the title of the project comes from my own anatomy, i believe my nerve rings are a byproduct of stress caused by sleepwalking and disturbed sleep.

I am gathering inspiration directly from my own subconscious, thus getting to know myself better and learning that frightening situations like this can be a conduit for inspiration.