Jassira De Almeida

Bark to Branches

“Bark to Branches” is a stop-motion abstract film that explores the species of lichen I found in local parks along with a variety of textures and backgrounds using old materials and the lichen itself. I use multiple lenses to get closer to the lichen and capture simulations of growth when interacting with water.

“My film is an exploration of the lichen and the changes that occur when interacting with water. I share my obsession with the colours and movements through stop-motion animation. I use branches to create textured backgrounds and pieces of bark that have a variety of lichen for the main animation sequences. The film transitions from the macro lens to a microscope, diving into the world of this organism and sharing its beauty closer and closer. The animation is an introduction to lichen with sound that is recorded near and with the materials I collected. As someone who has trouble expressing my thoughts with words, animating without a story comes easy to me. With this film I wanted to invite others into a world that has entranced me and share the beauty of lichen and stop-motion. ”