Breathe

s p a c e

there is a silence that suffocates

to wash down the noise

a balance of self destruction 

between crisp white sheets

and pretentious choices

what i need most from you

is a bit of breathing room

a semblance of an escape

an avalanche of solitude

The photographs above were taken for a plate for my creative photography class. Our professor said we could choose any psychological disorder and I chose Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. We were tasked to create a portrait that embodied the disorder while marrying color (white) and form (foam). We were to take into account what the color symbolizes (white as an indication of cleanliness, purity, and perfection) and what the chosen form seeks to accomplish (foam/soap which is normally seen as the protector against disease, in this case, suffocates and becomes the aggressor).

While OCD is most commonly known as an obsession for cleanliness and perfection, and is seen as one of the less destructive, non life-threatening disorders,  it has the power to completely take over somebody's life. 

As I was researching for the plate I learned that I actually have a very mild case of OCD. I have an irrational fear of germs, I hoard knick knacks and old things because they hold "sentimental value", I count footsteps sometimes and I'm a bit too particular with symmetry and balance. One of my weirder habits is that sometimes if i touch something with my left hand, I have to touch it again with my right hand so it's equal. This doesn't happen very often but it isn't something normal people do, right? Or is it just me? Doesn't anyone else get annoyed when your right foot brushes against the edge of a tile on the floor when you meant to stay inside the lines?!

Ah, forget it. it's not like I was ever normal to begin with. XD