MAPS

Anh's map:
I was inspired by the growth of the plant. I used plants as the metaphor for self-care routine I grows by myself. Here is how it works. Whenever I suffer sadness or anxiety, those emotional feelings will be cared by self-care blooms in my inner psyche.

Vera's map:
Using the research as my inspiration, my map would feature how a person would think and function. I used myself as a starting point, figuring I can take best care of myself when I have gained a certain amount of information, gained knowledge on this and using this experience to adjust my behaviour to suit my needs. On the right you see a quick doodle as my starting point, later on we build together on the idea to use nature as a metaphor for the self, and how to take care.

On a walk I got inspired by the plants and flowers moving in the wind, so I took the video you see on the right.

We constantly are bombarded by external influences, and the easier we are able to adapt to the unexpected, the better we are able to survive.

Much like how the weather tosses around these flowers, they do not get flattened, because they are flexible.

Narrative idea:

The seed is the core, which is the unseen self. This part only you are aware of. The stem is the identity, how people know you, your face to the outside world. Your roots are grown by learning, experience and education. They hold you strong in the soil. This earth consists of your history, your family and your youth. How nutritious and balanced this soil is, will greatly influence your future development into adulthood. Your leaves will grow with all these elements, and they will do the best if you practise self-care. The elements like the sun, wind and rain will influence how quickly you are able to mature. If you know how to practise self-care, you are able to resist and grow. The goal is to make a flower, the end of evolution and the optimal self.

Bo's map:

PRACTICE OF SELFCARE

With this one, I was kind of making fun of the concept 'map', because I like to play with interpretations of concepts:) I created four different yet similar sculptures that look like white stones, put them in a row and in between them I also put a white plastic human head. In the legend it basically says that all the shapes practice their selfcare by simply existing, and only the head (representing humans) practices selfcare because of external pressure. I was thinking about how selfcare is kind of a luxury thing. It depends on how you look at it of course, but it is not likely to see let's say homeless people paying attention to their selfcare, they are occupied with other things. if 'selfcare' is a priority in your life, you are in a privileged position, I guess.

We were also talking about objects having a soul and how I personally believe that, so then; why not investigate the behavior of stones?

SELFCARE SMOOTHIE

This is a map completely adapted to my personality. It is a recipe video for the ultimate selfcare smoothie. After hearing a lecture from Portia Jackson-Preston, I came up with this idea. According to her, selfcare has six aspects: mental, fysical, emotional, spiritual, relational and professional. So I took some ingredients and made them into those aspects, just by writing f.e. "relational" on them. I adapted the ingredients to my personal needs, so how I feel like I should take care of myself, and blended them together to create the ultimate selfcare smoothie.