Binta Ngom

John Berger emphasizes how seeing comes before words. In his book “Ways of Seeing” he says “We never look at just one thing; we are always looking at the relation between things and ourselves”. We all feel a certain connection when we can relate to a message that someone else put out there. Giving us reassurance that we’re not alone. Images are used to as an artistic platform to bring awareness or send a message to the viewer. Thus making it a kind of language that can speak louder to us than most words can. Words are set in stone and super specific, but with a photograph, picture or illustration multiple interpretations can surface. Everyone has their own unique perspective, which can in some ways be more powerful. 

The photo below spoke to me because of the way I can automatically relate to it. In one way, I see it as an illustration of a woman looking in the mirror at her younger self, viewing her innocence and noticing how it has changed into who she is now. She looks like she’s been through a lot of pain and has given up, envying her younger self who hasn’t seen any of it yet. Sometimes I too wish I could go back in time to relive the easier life I had before  I had all these adult responsibilities. Although I don’t do drugs or self harm, she clearly has been doing in the illustration, she’s showing pain, which we all can relate to.

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