Red String Experiments

Since I began thinking about 赤い糸 and how I could represent this visually, I’ve been so inspired to create work! I have been doing a lot of experimenting and playing with combinations of images over the past few days, and feel as if my project is really starting to come together both visually, and in terms of a narrative or story.

I photographed red string in various positions, and also used a needle to sew it through plain paper. I then photographed the string, and used Photoshop to add it to different images and see how it looked. I was really pleased with the initial results, and spend around 7 hours just playing and fiddling that day.

Then I thought about how I could incorporate the chat messages between Shinya and I, and I came up with a small layout which included an image of the two of us (taken from our Facebook accounts), with a message and some string stitches. I feel that these have a scrapbook or diary feel to them, and the inclusion of the photo gives it the sense of recollection, or trying not to forget. The messages do not relate to the images specifically, but they do contrast the past and present (images from the past, and messages from more recent times.) Additionally, the images capture times that we were physically together and enjoying ourselves, whereas the messages have a sad, concerned, or longing tone to them. I turned them black and white so that they were consistent, and I thought the red bubbles were distracting.

After playing around with these images, I also tried turning them black and white to give them a stronger sense of uniformity. That also allowed the red string to stand out more. I’m not yet sure if I would prefer to go with colour or black and white images. 

After looking at lots of photobooks that included news print, or found images, I also wanted to play with the idea that these we kind of ‘archival’ images by altering their clarity and quality. I did this by using various pixellation filters in Photoshop. They all have a slightly different effect and feel. I think that the Mezzotint gives the image an archival newspaper feel, whilst the Mosaic evokes thoughts of privacy or censorship. The effect I like most if Fragment, because it makes your eyes struggle to see the image. It is almost in focus, but not quite. Like 90% of the information is there but we can’t make a clear picture. This reminds me of times when I have tried to recall a memory, and am almost successful, but it is not 100% there. Like it’s fuzzy around the edges. It’s a frustrating uncomfortable feeling, and I want to experiment with this further to push the idea of perhaps failing to perfectly recall my life or times when Shinya and I were physically together.

I also started playing around with some combinations of images that might look good as book layouts. I want to decide on maybe 3-4 layouts and keep them consistent throughout the book, but for now I am still in an experimental stage. I do like the addition of the text messages here too, as I think they add character to the images, even if they are taken out of context. I feel that this also allows the audience to try to draw connections between the images and the text, and perhaps imagine what backstory may have led to the message.

In the set below, the photo of the hole punched card has significance as this was my residency card in Japan (all foreigners must have one and carry it at all times.) When you give up your visa status and/or leave the country, your residency card is hole-punched and becomes redundant. The stamp on the bottom right states that the card holder (ie: me) is in a state of ‘searching for a place permanent residency,’ and I thought that also added meaning to the image.