Les Passions de l’âme is a project born out of a deep introspection of my own emotions, with a particular emphasis on their negative aspects. Emotions shape our daily choices and desires, and becoming aware of this process led me to closely explore the states I experience. I observed, in particular, how I react under the influence of negative emotions, which prompted me to study them more thoroughly, understand them, and discover methods of managing and transforming them.
In this search for inner balance, water plays a crucial role. Receptive and purifying, it becomes a space for reflection and renewal. Inspired by the drawings of Charles Le Brun from his “Expressions des passions de l’âme” series, the project takes form as an ephemeral installation, with frozen prints at its core, capturing various negative emotions. The process of freezing symbolizes the imprisonment and preservation of these feelings, while water, through its own dynamic, shapes the final expression of each emotion.
Once thawed, the images gradually dissolve, and the melting process becomes a cathartic experience of release and forgetfulness. In this way, the emotion slowly loses its power, and through this ephemeral cycle of captivity and release, Les Passions de l’âme offers a visual metaphor for inner healing.
La douleur
L'effroy
La colère
La tristesse
Les Passions de l’âme, 2022, video, 07:39 min
Exhibition view, Rezidența BRD Scena9, Bucharest, 2022
Photo: Ștefania Crăciun