Maria Tran

Interlude

My artistic practice analyzes intersectional experiences for the purpose of healing and better understanding oneself. As a first generation Canadian coming from a strict Asian upbringing, there are internal and external expectations to excel both academically and professionally. A strong sense of filial piety motivated me to achieve excellence, but overtime this transformed into a fear of the unknown. Although detrimental to my growth as a person, inaction meant that I could have a sense of control over failure. After all, if there is no attempt to delve into the unknown and succeed, there is (technically) no risk of failure. Having recognized my own cognitive processes, I was inspired to translate this experience into a medium to be understood universally amongst viewers to create a semblance of solidarity.My latest work, "Interlude", is a 2D animation that explores the effects on the psyche due to the fear of failure and the unknown. It brings to attention that although there is solace in residing within one’s comfort zone, the act of continually refusing to expand your boundaries will manifest itself within one’s mind. This prolonged state of stasis stunts one’s development as a person and thereby impedes on the experience of life. Animated in Photoshop and After Effects, the dreamlike style and aesthetic are representative of the tranquility of one’s refuge. However, as time continues to freeze, it quickly transforms into a beautifully still but lifeless world.The animation follows a character too afraid to traverse the world beyond the realm of what they know. As a result, they become a shell of what they could have been - a non-entity who can only witness life moving on from afar. Engaging this concept within the animation, the character is designed to exist as a shadow within a picturesque world where time stops wherever they go; essentially trapping themselves in a world of the in-between, an interlude, of sorts. Just like an interlude within a play or a song, a pause is only meant to last for a short period of time before it becomes monotonous. With this realization, the character pushes past their fears and chooses to move forward in life; free from their mental anguish, they are finally able to reclaim their identity.Ultimately this work is an introspective study of myself, but also a shared journey that we, as a greater collective, endure through the tribulations and uncertainties in life. In the end, our failures are what help us grow and it is through redefining our boundaries that we realize our resilience and find who we are as individuals.