make me a whirlwind / not a breeze but a storm
What does it feel like to be truly present? Truly and actually in the 'now'? These are the sentiments at the heart of Make Me a Whirlwind / Not a Breeze but a Storm.
The now, is like the eye of the storm; this analogy forms the allegorical framework of the project. The eye of the storm is a sudden moment of unexpected silence and almost complete stillness. In front, the wind moves clockwise, while behind, it moves in reverse. Could this be a metaphor for past and future, the circular, yet simultaneously directional nature of time?
Together, they form one loop, one swirl, made visual by dust, a time-telling device. As humans, we float in and out, dusting ourselves against past and future; at times, we fall into old memories and recollections, while other times we get sucked into anticipation, longing, curiosity for what might be.
At its core, Make Me a Whirlwind is grounded in documentary work.
Throughout my studies in Graphic Communication Design, I have often conducted interviews, distributed questionnaires, and explored many primary research methods. This approach has become a staple in my practice-an essential step in my process that I cannot overlook. Engaging with my audience early in the creative process ensures that all subsequent creative decisions are justified by this research.
These online, anonymous written interviews constitute the content of Make Me a Whirlwind, the publication. Alongside this, a spoken word piece, a poem of the same name. Together, these form the conceptual context for Not a Breeze but a Storm, a short vignette. Initially, I had set out to create a documentary film. Nevertheless, the poetic nature of the interview responses became fuel for worldbuilding and characterisation. The allegorical form and function of Not a Breeze but a Storm is strongly influenced by Chris Marker's 1962 photo-roman film, La Jetée, a Sci-Fi narrative comprised entirely of still images and a voice-over. Yet, it feels so forthright, so much like a documentary in its honesty, simplicity and incidental objectivity, qualities I have aspired to emulate.
performance.
Ellie Hoffman
set assist.
Poppy Davenport