Strength in Unity
Artist Name: Yekaterina Bulanova, Cindy De Leon,
Hanina Badis, Katrina Adviievska
Artist Statement
Self-awareness, consciousness and thinking embody the foundations of the unity of the world. The idea of the unity of everything and everybody makes it possible for other ideas to coexist and co-develop within the framework of the whole. Consciousness is an organized system, the highest level of development of matter, the formation of which begins with the simplest levels of response reactions. Awareness of oneself as integrity or unity of consciousness is a necessary condition for the formation of self-consciousness in person and finding inner balance.
Inner harmony can be achieved when it is feasible to create a favorable surrounding. The choice of the environment should be approached consciously: giving up “toxic” relationships, finding people who can inspire, and spending more time outside. The rule of personal balance is manifested through moderation, wisdom, understanding the laws of life, and awareness. The law of balance works in our physical body, maintaining homeostasis, and it is hidden in our consciousness, even if we do not realize it. Any change in the external environment disturbs and knocks a person off his feet if there is no inner balance. The maintenance of inner harmony should be considered as a fundamental human skill: the degree of its development directly depends on what sensations and reactions you experience when faced with various events in life. ‘Time and balance the two most difficult things to have control over, yet they are both the things that we do control” (Pulsifer “We never seem to have enough time”).
Unity provides us with greater insight about the world and an unshakable foundation of self development . The more united we are , the more in control we are of our environment . This project is dedicated to wholeness, balance, achievement, healthy mind set and collective uplifting. This is the world of togetherness and oneness.When you value the thought and ideas of others, you receive the component results of team thinking and accomplish more than you can imagine .
In a world where division rules, as seen in the media and in politics, it can be very easy for people to feel like they are going through hardships and mental struggles alone. We often feel comfortable sharing the good details of our lives, because it is easier to talk about and it triggers positive emotions. However, it leaves no room for subjects that are a little bit harder to talk about. In many cultures, talking about “sensitive” subjects is considered taboo, and it leaves many people going through life keeping everything bottled up as to not appear “inferior” or “weak”. This project is meant to amplify the voices of people who have gone through loneliness, depression, anxiety, and fear.
Loneliness in particular is a dangerous mindset to have, it convinces you that you are truly the only person experiencing this type of feeling, when in reality millions are living through it as well, especially in a time such as the pandemic.
The characteristics that make a human are far beyond what they possessed or what they do in the eagerness of life. It is easy to forget that besides being professionals, students, and employees human beings are a source of emotions that require connections with one another; for this reason, giving the community a change to stop and reflect on the beauty of unity is the greatest service one can have. Allowing people to foster unity and inner love is the pathway to healing from these unprecedented times, the opportunity to see these terrible events as a boost to growth and self-improvement are more than enough to be thankful for life, but also for the struggle that encourages people to evolve.
The monument contains beautiful lotus flowers that not only decorate the structure but represent a deeper understanding of human nature. The flower has the ability to remain pure despite its muddy environment coming to symbolize rebirth, resilience, and calmness when things get difficult. Society needs to heal from all the pain from the past; unfortunately, nobody anticipated the pandemic, but the lotus flower it’s a reminder that despite surprising turbulence there is space for strength and beauty in the middle of the fight. In order to overcome this widespread issue collaboration is a must especially when addressing mental health issues; for this reason, it is important to eradicate the idea of isolating every single struggle to the individual and accept that help is not embarrassing and union makes us stronger.
