Black + Blue

ABOUT BLACK + BLUE

Taking ownership is a journey. Noticing your own wrong-doings at a later date is okay. Trying to understand the reasons why you did certain things, or said certain things is all a part of the journey. Only when you reflect and take a step back do you become aware of the behaviour.

Journalling can be very impactful. Love is blind and sometimes you don’t know when to leave, or can’t leave a relationship safely. Writing can bring up unexpected thoughts, taking you through ups & downs of your inner mind. A wandering mind finding clarity through the clutter. Our dancer shows this path of the unknown conclusion.

Anything others say about you (or the relationship) isn’t “half as bad as what I put you through”. It doesn't matter what other people say or think, it may be too late to fix what was broken, especially if you realise the toxicity of a relationship a while after. But we can take ownership for our actions, words, and faults, and learn from them. There are always two sides to a story, and playing the victim gives you no ability to learn and grow.

We all have different attachment styles, and are ultimately working towards being secure. These variations on love make a difference on how communication dynamics work.

For the purpose of this project, we focus on anxiety-attached love; the misunderstandings, negative criticism, longing for connection & closeness; which pushed the other partner away. Through every relationship, there will inevitably be lessons to be learnt. Meaning we will constantly run into the same issues if we refuse to learn from our mistakes.

Taking control of your own thinking is powerful. Taking productive steps forward towards healing for ourselves and becoming the best version we want to be, enables us to enter another relationship with more tools and resources to protect oneself & protect a new partner.

This piece portrays accusations, destructiveness, and reflections. There are so many emotions one can go through by letting go of a romantic relationship, and letting go is difficult for some. Unfortunately we are not taught how to overcome heartache. We do the best with the knowledge and experiences we have, and it’s understandable that we don’t always end a relationship neatly or unscathed.

Every person's life is so unique, so it’s no surprise that each unique relationship takes on its own journey. There’s no simple linear path, or clear answer to healing after a breakup. It can be hard to articulate the pain or navigate the grief you’re going through.

However from experience; seeking help, while it doesn’t take all the pain away it helps in sharing that burden or heaviness. Help to you might look like talking to a friend, family member, or maybe even a counsellor. Don’t be afraid to reach out - it may take time to find the right person you feel comfortable talking to, but it is important to understand your own thoughts.

So take the time to decide who to trust with your troubles. We underestimate how much other people love and care for us, and support looks different for everyone's individual circumstance.

We leave this piece open-ended; the only constant in life is change, as we are forever evolving and growing through the unknown. You choose your path. What do you do next when you acknowledge the situation? Apologise to yourself? Apologise to the other person and make things right? Move on and learn from your mistakes?