(Personal Mythologies)
THE FILM
PERSONAL NA MITOLOHIYA
An intimate hybrid of documentary and experimental storytelling, this film allows the artist to extend her traditional artworks consisting of paint and canvas, pencil and paper and photography into moving images. Showcasing Dominique’s journey of identity and artistry through poetic imagery, raw emotive language, textured music, and dynamic cinematography, the project allows viewers to create their own personal mythologies through her story and her art. Inspired by mythological Greek hero’s journeys, Dominique begins her filmic journey in the Philippines presenting the story of the Adarna Bird, an old Filipino folklore. This folklore is a prominent subject in her paintings thus aims to make the viewer feel like they have just entered inside her paintings. Created as a continuous symbolic representation of the heroine’s journey, the movement of this piece illustrates Dominique metaphorically and physically crossing the ocean to become the present-day version of herself. This was accomplished through handheld camera, whip pans, speed ramps, and seamlessly edited transitions in post.
Overall, this film challenges traditional documentary formats with its fresh and evocative imagery. Using dynamic angles, wide angle lenses, and a variation of depths with extreme close ups to wide shots, it creates a dynamic relationship between Dominique and the space around her. Beginning with more tight shots with high angles looking down onto Dominique to then wide open shots from low angles showing the shift and reclamation of power. The film is a poignant reminder of the artist’s belief that one of the ultimate transgender experiences is self expression, thus rooting the message of the piece in the spirit of self-actualization.
Collaborators:
Directing - Susan O’Brien
Cinematography - Jesse Bronstein
Writing - Xoai Pham
Musical Scoring - Danielle Venne
Still photography- Susan O’Brien, William Thaggard
Make-up - Alex Justimbaste
Hair - Gregory Alan
Fashion - Rinat Brodach, Century Girl Vintage, Odaomo
Art From The Film:
HULING HILING ROSEPH’S ROSE
(2023)
36” x 24”
Oil, Acrylic, Wax, and Spray Paint on Canvas
In the work, the artist captures a deeply personal narrative that intertwines loss, longing, and a profound tribute to a mother's enduring love. During the filming of the artist's film 'Personal Na Mitolohiya,' a deeply poignant and personal narrative unfolded, giving rise to the creation of this painting. This narrative took shape before the artist's mother succumbed to breast cancer in May 2020, leaving behind an unfulfilled request for a few pink roses to grace her room.
The stark reality of the ongoing pandemic, marked by closed flower shops and logistical challenges, became a poignant obstacle, preventing the artist from fulfilling this final wish. The process of creating this painting was interwoven with the emotions and circumstances surrounding the artist's mother's passing, adding layers of depth and personal significance to the artwork. Through the medium of paint and canvas, the artist navigates the delicate terrain of loss and pays homage to a mother's love that transcends the boundaries between life and memory.
Through the lens of the work, the artist invites viewers into a sacred realm where grief and beauty converge. The pink roses, beyond their aesthetic allure, become vessels carrying the emotions, memories, and the immeasurable love that transcends the boundaries of time and space. The work becomes not only a tribute but a testament to the enduring power of love and the eternal beauty that persists even in the face of loss.