Shadow Places – Three
For this commission, Amy has created a series of photographic self-portraits titled Shadow Places and accompanying creative writing/spoken text about living with complex post traumatic stress disorder.
Image Description
Landscape oriented photo. In the centre of the image is a white woman sat in a wheelchair. She has her right foot tucked behind her left on the small foot platform. She is wearing silver socks and black shoes, and a draping black dress. On her head is a long piece of coral pink silky material, draping down behind and beside her. She is wearing a headband made with dried marshland grasses which are curly. It sticks up like a spiralled grassy crown. She has her hands in her lap and her head is tilted back and to the side with her eyes closed. Behind her are some tree saplings with pale trunks and bright green leaves growing out of an old light grey stone wall, with another, darker grey stone wall behind that and a green grassy bank.
Spoken Text
Low voice, calm, soft and measured
burst flashes of a past kept hidden
they witness
deep hugs and offered words
arms holding like old branches
they witness
kind smiles and keen eyes
offering, offering
not the thundering blood
mind fizzing with ten thousand disparately woven thoughts
lightning bolts of memories
bursting unannounced
like a wasp drunk with late sun, desperately trying to make sense of the air
searching through glass for a world they’ll never reach