99‚7%
digital and analogue photography, archival material, video
3rd year bachelor’s student
What is silence? Silence, it seems, is such a normal part of our lives that many of us rarely notice it. It is a state that we experience daily, and which enters our thoughts without being noticeable. But what is silence really? It is more than the absence of sound; it is a complex and multifaceted experience.
The project before you addresses this question and seeks to discover different facets (shades) of silence. In this series, I analyze archival footage, moments I remember from my childhood, from the times before and after the cochlear implant surgery, this is an introduction to my life as a disabled person with impaired hearing.
As I contemplated the word “silence” I asked myself what does it mean to me? It’s hard to describe what true absence of sound feels like. But for me, this disability is an opportunity to exist in two different realms. It is a paradox. I exist in silence; I exist in sound.
Silence is generally paradoxical. It can be peaceful and soothing, full of possibilities for deep reflection. But it can also be a terrible emptiness, isolation, and disconnection to the world. I have tried to capture this duality in every frame where the lights and shadows of silence meet. My photographs or videos are not just a visual record of memories. They are a way to open a dialogue about the importance of silence in life. It is a documentation of my journey towards the life of an ordinary hearing and speaking human being.
My perception of silence as a hearing-impaired person may not be universal, but it is one of many voices that contribute to a richer understanding of this mysterious concept.
“What is silence?” is not only a collection of photographs, but also possible questions hidden in each image, which are directed as much at me as they are directed at you.
