HAWAÏ
Androgynous apparel, avant-garde posing, oversaturated colours; a journey attempting to discover our artistic identities
Photographies by William & Laura
Editing by Laura
Texts and translations by William et Laura
Below, not only will you have access to breathtaking landscapes and memories from our trip to Hawaï, but also our thoughts, insecurities, wishes and aspirations. Because above all. we are not only artists, but humans; we seek out growth in discomfort, as we hope you do the same.
It’s no secret that ever since our appearance on Revolution, our lives have changed drastically. Overnight, our social statuses changed from college students to professional dancers and just like that, our careers were launched.
Coming in this competition, we knew we were going to play against the big leagues: we were terrified. Although naive, we hoped to change the world as it changes us, giving us hope and motivation to pursue the game.
To this day, we still wonder what distinguished us from the rest, what made us stand out. Did we really deserve to remain in this competition? How did two young and ingenuous dancers end up in the professional world? But television isn’t real, right? Something had to be made up... Yet, here we are. Maybe it was faith, maybe it was destiny, maybe it was luck. Nothing could’ve predicted the outcome of this experience, but we are eternally grateful.
Nonetheless, we set ourselves a specific goal to give meaning to our work. We wanted to accomplish the impossible, share and experience a vast range of emotions. For this, we knew we only had to be one thing: artists.
Little did we know, the world surprised us: what relief we had to have discovered the playground of an artist. To this date, we’ve been trying to achieve this intuitive quest, this search for our inner creators. We raised a thousand and one pebbles to find a thousand and one finds.
The relationship between an artist and his society is what what stood out the most. On one hand, it’s the contribution he brings to the table, participating in artistic and intellectual growth: he brings new perspectives and ideologies through his art. His goal is to move his society and, ultimately, his own identity. On the other hand, he somewhat represents a threat: his art reflects its flaws and incongruences. Society sees the artist as an underdog or, more commonly, as some sort of hippy.
Just like that, the gap is created and strengthened; the carousel repeats itself until the day it decides otherwise. He suddenly becomes admirable and admired, isn’t it a fun game?
We must confess, capturing these moments was one of the highlights of our trip. Frolicking across the island, letting our inner tourists steer us towards the unknown, trying to find the perfect spot or even letting the perfect spot find us. In turn, we found ourselves shifting between the roles of model and photographer: a transition that we had yet to experience, however inevitable.
A feeling of contentment filled us, as we looked back on our creations. Then and there, we felt as if a new door of possibilities opened itself to us and we couldn’t wait to share it with the world.
Unfortunately, along the way, we lost our ‘’why’’. The work quickly started to lose its meaning, putting ourselves under irrevocable pressure with the mindset of trying to please our audience. This was our biggest mistake, and we had in our hearts to share our experience in hope that you wouldn’t fall in the same trap.
This said, thank you for staying with us through this journey and appreciating us for who we are.
Storytime!
Amidst the dewy grass and the vibrant trees, a single picnic table stood out from the rest, as a family of four was about to devour their meal. Not two steps away, a pathway that led straight to the main attraction of the island, Waikiki, was overflowing with pedestrians and tourists.
It was 3 pm. Despite this, echoes of the neverending traffic were heard in the distance while the babble of the birds and the breathing of the wind tinted the ambiance. The rays of the sun came all at once; reflected by the colossal skyscrapers that had taken over the city.
To wrap it all up, two little rascals, mad as monkeys, were climbing the woods. It was all just a big clutter: Passers-by questioning their every steps, mouths and eyes wide open, drooling with uncertainty. Even the lady who stuffed her burger had a piece "taped" to the edge of the cheek..
We must admit, it was memorable.
When is the last time you looked up at the clouds?
I never liked camping. Mosquitos, bees, rigid soil, dirt... Waking up freezing in the middle of the night. Being so far from civilisation that your phone can’t pick up any signal. Afraid of going to the ONLY bathroom because a monstrosity of a spider is monopolizing the stall. As if there wasn’t any beauty in the simplest, most purest things that nature could offer. As if nature only consisted of flowers and waterfalls. We seem to have a restricted construct of nature, one that only considers its beauty through the ‘’running barefoot in the fields, hair in the wind, inhaling the crisp air with a slight, yet honest smile’’ , but you don’t see the bloody feet blisters, the tangled hair and the bugs that got stuck in between the teeth. To this day, I am guilty of this, but everyday I try to learn new ways to appreciate nature and what it has to offer, being grateful for the mosquitos, bees and dirt.
What gives you a feeling of pride, one that allows you to wake up every morning full of joy?
Creativity is a virtue which we have yet to master; trying as best as we can to seize it, but it always seems to slip right through our fingers. Exasperated, we must admit our jealousy to those whose names have transcended time, those who have looked past the ‘’rules’’ of society to propose a new technique or mindset, those who forged the world we currently live in.
Are we wrong to think we are imposters? Crouched on this pedestal looking metal structure:
what shame we have to believe we could have the honor of being fixed in an admirable sculpture. What crazy stunt or shananigan do we have to accomplish in order to earn this privilege?
Dreaming on the ocean. Feeling the rhythm of the waves hitting the hull of the ship. Being rocked by the grogginess of the wind. Intoxicated with a feeling of fulfilment. Finally, letting go. Letting yourself be carried away like a dog with a treat hanging at the end of its nose. Not knowing where to go and how to care. We could only describe this as euphoric.
It happens to us, all too often, to be afraid to live outside the box. We’re still learning not to be reluctant, now seeing its benefits: every time we dip our toe, we discover wonders like no other. Don’t get stuck in a dream, life is too short to imagine what could or couldn’t be.
Have you ever looked at a painting in an art gallery and thought: why the hell is this worth a million dollars? Even I can draw a red line on a blank canvas.
Sometimes, the painting doesn’t, in fact, have a deeper meaning than what is shown on the surface, but more often, there’s more to it than the eye can see. At a first glance, at least.
If you look closer, paying attention to every detail, every brush stroke, you may notice a yellow spect or even a picture hidden behind the stroke. Most artists follow a simple guideline: simplicity is key. Legs overcrossed and layers of dresses stacked, we hoped that it would be enough for your entertainment, but is it ever?
Therefore, we commit to staying true to ourselves and sharing what makes us proud, even if it is only a red stroke on a white painting.