Kintsugi Art

Positive movement through life’s adversity

A friend of mine had recently come through the life altering trauma of cancer. It had wrecked and ravaged her, and her life and her family. Yet she had overcome. She was stronger and beat it.

I wanted to give her a gift, something to help her celebrate, something to mark her triumph but I couldn’t think of a possible thing to give that would be meaningful and say what I wanted to say. Nothing I could find would hold enough significance.

I could think of plenty of gift ideas but none of them were meeting my requirements. The only one thing that came to mind was jewellery but she had lots of jewellery and jewellery tends to be a personal gift.

Though I knew I could create a photograph that would be fitting and hit the mark perfectly.

Colour Psychology

Knowing my colours, what they mean, what they give us, how they make us feel, and how they reach us on a subconscious level, pink was my colour. A muted, soft but still vibrant shade what was I was looking for. A beautiful generous pink with touches of super pale pink also. Thank fully in nature, pink isn’t hard to find in varying shades.

A quick visit to my favourite florist would hopefully give me what I was searching for… or so I thought! I needed a super special, beautifully folded rose. All roses are gorgeous, but I needed a soft, delicate petal, and to have a rose that was only just starting to open. My florist told me to come back in a few days, when I did I was absolutely blown away by the pink peony she had for me!! WOW!!! Here we go, this is just what I needed.

The pink Peony was stunningly beautiful and symbolised my friend and her life before cancer struck perfectly.

Kintsugi Art

I knew this had to be a Kintsugi piece. But the Kintsugi mark had to be minor, although this cancer had a huge impact in relation to the rest of her whole entire life, and everything she ever has done or will do, this cancer was relatively small.

I had a really good idea of this photograph in my head so from here things were relatively straight forward. I knew I wanted a shallow depth of field to allow the viewer to focus on the Kintsugi and the plane that it crossed. I knew I wanted to photograph across the top of the peony to show the petals, the flowers heart, and I also knew I wanted side lighting to allow for a soft but definitive contrast.

I placed the Kintsugi mark on one of the outer petals. Viewing the centre of the Peony as the centre, the heart or the soul. I wanted the Kintsugi mark to be away from her heart, to be on the outer and less relevant there to the core of my friend existence.

Pink and Gold

A softer pink makes us feel physical wellness, elegance, grace, unconditional love, and makes us feel nurtured and admired.

Kintsugi Gold makes us feel love, prosperity, confidence, courage and abundance. It also adds that extra sparkle. Cancer is a part of her life, and even though it is in her past, it gives us the power of knowing we have overcome and won.

I stole some petals from behind, below and to the left of the Peony to make sure pink filled my entire frame. I always feel bad pulling petals off a perfect flower and just between you and me, I always say sorry when doing so. Ssshh. I needed the background to be pink also though.

The story of this photograph reads: This darkness was forced upon her. She had no choice but to unleash all she had with strength and grace. Her determination, her courage in the face of fear and uncertainty. This is only a small part of who she is, but it is also a big part of who she is. From her challenges rose undefeated greatness, and a soul that can never be stolen.

I feel the relentless need to reach people

One thing I wish to achieve from my work is to be able to reach many people. While this story is reflective of my friends cancer, it is left open to fall into many trauma stories for many people. One person has told me she held it in reference to growing up in an abusive childhood home. Another has told me he bought this print for his wife to help her acknowledge and heal from her recent post natal depression. Another recognised The Survivor as a reflection of their separation from an ausive ex husband.

As with all of the photographs in The Humble Hunter portfolio, I love that The Survivor is an open book. It has the ability to touch many people with a whole range of trauma behind them. I created this story with a clear intention for my friend, but also knowing it would be fitting for any survivor from any range of challenge or adversity.

The Survivor can help us reflect on the past in a positive way, but most importantly give those who relate acknowledgment. Showing them that they have been heard, felt and their challenges and accomplishment has been validated. It gives them a daily reminder of just how strong they are, and how they have accomplished so much to get to where they are today. It tells the story of a time that is difficult to put into words.

The Survivor makes us feel love, nurturing, confidence and one of my favourites, admiration. Anyone who has come through enormous pain should honestly be so incredibly proud of themselves.

Trauma can take you

Trauma like this can take you one of two ways, up or down. Going down is generally the direction a lot of people get taken in, especially at the start of their journey. Absolutely, it will take you down, right down to some very dark places. No one, absolutely no one is immune to this. It will take you down. Down in those depths is where you become all consumed, it swallows you up, withut a care for you.

But here is where most of us realise our incredible strength. And it takes incredible, persistent strength to rise up from this depth.

We all go down at some point no matter what, but coming back up, emerging from that darkness takes a lot of strength, courage and inner work. Some may have support in their upward journey, some may do it alone.

That upward journey can take a very long time, sometimes it can be unending and become part of our new normal. For a long time there will be days where we will drop down again from time to time, but the thing that matters is we value ourselves enough to come back up and aim to stay there. This upward journey is just as momentous as the downward journey.

Whatever your story, whatever the cause of trauma, please dont let it define you. What should define you, what you should be proud of, what you are admired the most for is the fact that you rose again. You made that upward journey and you are here today to help others on their own path.

Thank you so much for being here,

The Humble Hunter x

Buy your copy of Kintsugi Art photograph The Survivor here.