Project 547 was developed and shot during 2013 but the idea appeared at the end of 2012 during a lecture that presented examples of how the placement of key objects within the photo can influence the perception of the context. meaning, depending on the spacial relationship - such as distance - between the objects would determine what the viewer feels the photo represents.
New Zealand has one of the highest suicide rates in the world. At the time of my research the latest statistics showed 547 people throughout New Zealand chose to take the drastic step and end their own lives. That is an average of over 10 people a week.
An empty chair is a worldwide symbol of the loss of a life. Now there are 547 empty chairs throughout Aotearoa.
The first famous use of an empty chair as a symbol is Luke Fildes painting entitled "The Empty Chair" showing Charles Dickens's empty chair after his death in 1870.
A modern day example in current New Zealand society is the 185 white painted chairs that form the memorial to the earthquake (2012) victims in Christchurch.
I have created profiles of nine of the suicide scenarios based on statistics between July 2011 and June 2012. Each photograph in this series shows a room or a place and tells the story of each individual suicide. They all have an empathy chair.
To each photograph is a small body of text, written by friends of me - who al is fighting their own personal battle of life.
Today you will see 5 of my 9 images.
Photo1 - Lost
What does one do when all that they love is lost?
What can one do when there is nothing more?
Time has come to a halt. Life has come to a halt.
What more is left?
Nothingness. Loneliness. Emptiness. Sadness. Complete darkness.
Why go on? Why live on?
This is the end. This is my end.
Photo2 - Abandoned
I am a fk loser, a failure. I can't feed my children, my wife (doesn't say anything but the look in her eye, she) is so ashamed being married to a loser dick like me and is embarrassed every time she goes to town. Everyone knows I fkd her life up and took her down.
She should have married (my brother) Tom. I hate my life and they will be better off finding someone else to be there dad and lover. I am just a waste of space and deserve to be dead.
Photo3 - Innocent
Black and blue
Inside and out
My 8 year old heart is bruised
Tired of this shameful life
Lost, broken and confused.
Darkness all around
But no sleep tonight
Voices down the hall
Soon turn to a fight
Shadows whisper softly
Go, find peace, be free
Teddy tries to hold me back
So i hurt him like they hurt me
Stars on ceiling
Call me to their home
End it all and join them
No longer angry and alone
I've done it now - no tears through
Just happiness and laughter
To live the life i deserve
My new happily ever after.
Photo4 - Falling
It's all too much. I feel so heavy. So very tired. This is it. Will I finally be free? No more fears? No more worries? No more horrors? No more screaming, shouting, crying. No one to answer to. Yes. It will al be over soon. A clear sky today. My ears are roaring, singing, buzzing into my heart. Hovering. Steeping out. Letting go. I've done it! Nothing to do. Just be. Still. Weightless? Light as a feather? An eagle soaring through the sky. I started so high up. It seemed. It felt. But now the ground is closing in. Grey, dark, cold. It will all be over. So soon. Quick, easy. Not painless. But worth it. Next life. Another lifetime, another life. Will it be easier? Or is this it?
Photo5 - Christmas
Lost, confused and filled with tears...
Trying to fake dreaded Christmas cheer
What's it for, who am I kidding!
Lonely, sad and fat and hated?
Annoying poetry in my head - what use are you? God I feel so tired, helpless and ...really alone, always alone. Can't trust men, girlfriends all married or busy with partners. Who can I call, who to reach out to? Men - what a disaster! Friends - married with kids, nobody has time for me. And why should they? I am just a miserable wretch! Plus an ugly and fat one! Parents - the word itself makes me want to cry! Too much sorrow to remember, too many sad Christmases, shouts and abuse... I guess, they get what they deserve - drowning in alcohol...
Here it is - here is my life: empty, sad to the brim, nothing to look forward to, nothing and nobody to live for, easier to end it all, I am tired, tired and lonely
- all fake garlands and lights and empty inside...