Hearts (Part 1)

I went through a pretty bad break up last year and I’m still struggling with that experience even though it happened almost six months ago.I learned a lot about myself in the process. Looking back I would have done many things differently while I was in the relationship. Unfortunately we can’t change the past but we can learn from it and use the experience to live our lives differently in the future.I spent the last six moths being very angry about what had happened and was trying to analyze and understand it.I was hurt and could not let go. Last weekend I had to admit that nothing I had tried to find resolution had worked and I decided to take pictures about my experience instead.I immediately thought of hearts, real hearts and on Sunday I made my way over to Chinatown and after some unsuccessful attempts at local butchers got lucky and walked home with three pounds of chicken hearts and five big pig hearts in my backpack. All I needed now were some props and by Monday my new project was in full swing.“My Heart” is telling the story of my heart in the emotionaly most difficult time of my life. I use these chicken and pig hearts as stand ins to express how I felt. I’m aware that these images might disturb people and that they are  not for the faint-hearted but neither was my experience.I have four strong images so far and there are many more to come.After I shot the first few frames I had to think of a quote by Pablo Picasso: “Art washes from the soul the dust of everyday life.”I'm starting to find my resolution. 

"My Heart (Part 1)" Williamsburg/Brooklyn/Chicken Heart on metal stick 01-24-12 at 04:20 PM

Please check out my website at carstenfleck.com