Self-Portrait Final Project - Daniel Lau

Nightmare's Awakening 

Marina Abramovic quotes/Project Description 

"To control the breathing is to control the mind. With different patterns of breathing, you can fall in love, you can hate someone, you can feel the whole spectrum of feelings just by changing your breathing."

- Her words illustrate how controlling our breath can profoundly affect our emotions and thoughts. She emphasizes the power of breath control in changing how we feel, highlighting the importance of practices like mindfulness and meditation. Her insight reflects a deep understanding of the human mind and its complexities. Personally, due to my experiences with my ex-girlfriend, I often find relief from stress by taking deep breaths.

"True connection requires mutual trust and respect."

- Her quote captures the heart of genuine connection by stressing the need for mutual trust and respect. She recognizes that meaningful relationships are built on these foundations, emphasizing equality and reciprocity. Her insight reflects a deep understanding of human dynamics and the importance of authenticity and empathy in relationships. It's worth mentioning that her wisdom reminds us of the basic principles that lead to fulfilling connections between people. It's clear to me that my relationship with my ex-girlfriend was very dysfunctional since we stopped adhering to those principles, with her being an abusive partner, both physically and verbally, and myself not having the courage to defend myself. A terrible combination. 

"Love is not just a feeling; it's a conscious choice we make every day."

I can safely say that she beautifully shifts our perspective on love, portraying it as a deliberate action rather than just a passing feeling. She emphasizes the significance of commitment and effort in relationships, recognizing that love requires continuous care to thrive. Her insight highlights the depth of human connections and the importance of nurturing them intentionally. Abramovic's wisdom reminds us to approach love with mindfulness and dedication, understanding that it's an ongoing journey of choice and development. In the beginning of my relationship with my ex-girlfriend, we not only felt happy but also understood each other well. We knew our strengths and weaknesses and explored our options based on them. Little did I know, this was the start of a living hell. 

"Sometimes, the greatest act of love is letting go."

- It's highly evident that her words beautifully challenges traditional views of love. She suggests that letting go can be the ultimate act of love, highlighting the importance of prioritizing well-being and growth in relationships. Her wisdom encourages us to embrace the freeing aspect of letting go, even when it's tough. In my toxic relationship with my ex-girlfriend, I felt dead inside. Letting go of her was what I ultimately chose because I realized our relationship was no longer healthy. It was best for both of us to part ways and continue to grow spiritually.

With my final project, I've created a digital self-portrait that represents my relationship with my ex-girlfriend. It illustrates the ups and downs of our relationship and my emotions throughout. As far as I remember, the ending of our relationship wasn't smooth.