About
"Chronicle of a Heartbreak" Artistic Photography Series
The Story behind "Chronicle of a Heartbreak" Series
“Chronicle of a Heartbreak,” is an Artistic Photography Series that delves into the intricacies of love, loss, and the resilience of the human spirit.
Set against the backdrop of a 1920s ballroom, these images weave a narrative that transcends time, capturing the universal emotions and experiences inherent in relationships.
From the intoxicating thrill of newfound love to the bittersweet ache of farewell, each photograph invites you to immerse yourself in a journey of introspection and empathy.
Through evocative imagery and poignant self-reflection, “Chronicle of a Heartbreak” offers a poignant exploration of the human condition, reminding us that the pursuit of love and the pain of heartbreak are enduring aspects of the human experience.
THE SERIES
"Chronicle of a Heartbreak" Photography Art Series
“CHRONICLE OF A HEARTBREAK” Photographic series. (2023)
With this photographic series, I seek to capture the different moments and emotions of a fleeting and casual relationship, from the initial euphoria to the painful farewell and subsequent recovery.
THE PIECES
"Dime si Aún Me Quieres..."
In the first image, “DIME SI AÚN ME QUIERES…”, we are transported to an elegant 1920s ballroom. The protagonist, with a gaze full of hope and melancholy, represents the dilemma of a love trapped between hope and resignation. The atmosphere evokes the decadent elegance of the era, while her gaze reflects the uncertainty of love.
"Adiós..."
In contrast, “ADIÓS” shows us the same scene now empty and silent, symbolizing the moment of farewell. The protagonist, with a serene yet resigned posture, reflects the determination to accept the end of the relationship. The photograph captures the weight of silence and the emotional burden of what could have been.
"...Otro Tequila Por Favor"
Finally, “…OTRO TEQUILA POR FAVOR” reveals a poignant self-portrait that encapsulates the anguish and turmoil of the end of a love affair. The image invites reflection on the idealization of a fleeting relationship and the strength required to move on after heartbreak. Each sip of tequila represents an attempt to numb the broken heart, a way to drown the pain in a liquor that burns as hot as the loss.
The photographic series “Chronicle of a Heartbreak” resonates beyond its specific era, capturing universal themes of love, loss, and acceptance that transcend time. Inspired by a personal adventure with a foreigner two years ago, these images delve deep into the complexities of relationships, echoing the emotions and experiences that are familiar to us all.
Regardless of the period or setting, the journey through the highs and lows of love is a narrative that strikes a chord with every heart. It speaks to the shared human experience of navigating the intricacies of affection, facing the inevitability of heartbreak, and summoning the courage to embark on the path of healing and renewal. Through the evocative lens of this series, viewers are invited to reflect on their own journeys of love and loss, acknowledging the enduring nature of these emotions and the unwavering resilience that resides within the human spirit.
BEHIND THE ESCENES
"Chronicle of a Heartbreak" Photographic Artworks Series
About the "Mexican Vintage" Catrina Makeup I used in this Series
To create this catrina makeup art design I used a combination of different elements:
The basic aesthetics of the “catrina” or “day of the dead” (characteristic facial elements of a skull such as eye sockets, teeth and cadaverous nose) combined with the aesthetics from the time of the 20’s (It is characterized by being a period of a lot of Charleston-style partying, therefore the makeup is more exaggerated. They maintained white & porcelain skin, greater application of color on the cheeks and lips in intense reds, eyes outlined with thin, curved eyebrows).
All of this in combination with the ornaments, rhinestones and glitter that characterize traditional catrinas and with a modern touch inspired by Mc Queen’s avant-garde looks.
As for the products used, they were mostly cosmetics and body paints. I am fascinated by combining both since the possibilities to create are endless and together they offer very varied finishes and textures.
About the Props
I like to create my own decorative props, in my home studio I usually have fabric flowers, rhinestones, colored papers, etc. on hand.
With them I put together what I need for my makeup art photos, and this time I used a couple of flowers to make the headdress, I didn’t want a big crown like the typical ones that catrinas wear, I wanted something more discreet, and to complete the look, I used my own rings, necklaces and bracelets 🙂
@carolinaescalanteart ✨CATRINA VINTAGE INSPIRADA EN LOS AÑOS 20’s ✨
♬ In The Mood - Glenn Miller And His Orchestra
Behind the Scenes
“Chronicle of a heartbreak” was born at a time in my personal life where I wanted to close once and for all a heartbreak that I had had in 2022. It was the time of Independence Day celebrations in Mexico and I usually do makeups that celebrate this and other important dates.
I already had in mind the desire to do a “vintage” style Catrina makeup but in combination with the colors of my flag and it didn’t take me long to do it. (Yes, I can think of very strange or unsual combinations, and I love it!).
But at the same time, in my day to day life, I was feeling very sad because I remembered the “impossible love” that I had experienced before, I told myself: Ok… he’s not going to come back, it’s time for you to turn the page. …
So I decided that this Catrina’s makeup would take it a step beyond the aesthetic… it just so happened that it connected with something deeper… something like “thank u for the trauma… I’ll used it for my art”.
I have always been fascinated by the movies of the 20’s, also because of these my desire for this makeup was born, the love stories, the dances in the ballrooms, the fashion, I am fascinated by the aesthetics of this time… and it was the context What I liked to give to this story of heartbreak…
I knew that the setting would be a challenge, I didn’t have artifacts or objects that would help me create the “20’s atmosphere” so I had to use one of my favorite and simplest resources: lighting.
In “Chronicle of a heartbreak” we do not see the musicians of the ballroom where the story takes place, nor are the waitresses or the bartender in the scene… so the lighting would be my “salvation” to be able to create ” the fictitious atmosphere “of the night parties…
For me, the main subject had to remain in focus, the expression be the protagonist, beyond a great production or a gloriously staged set… I think the “simpleness” of a close-up self-portrait, accompanied by this “ambiance” was what I was looking for… to be able to transmit the feelings that lived in me at that moment with no distractions, but immersing the viewer in this “environment” and letting their own imagination “draw” the rest of the scenario.
Almost without thinking or planning, this series emerged, while I was putting on my makeup I couldn’t stop thinking about this man… it happens to me very often that I start to make a piece for mere aesthetic purposes but it ends up being something much bigger, something could seem spontaneous, but I have already realized several times that it rather “screams to be expressed.”
"Aventurera". The Original Day of the Dead Makeup that inspired the Series
The protagonist who lives the story of told in “Chronicle of a Heartbreak” is a “flapper girl”, the flappers girls were a group of young women who challenged the social and cultural conventions of their time. They emerged after the First World War, when women began to fight for their rights and freedoms.
The name “Aventurera” takes inspiration from the bolero of the renowned singer Agustín Lara, who bears the same name.
This song resonates deeply with my personal story, which makes it a fitting namesake for a piece that encapsulates a spirit of adventure and audacity.
If I had been born at that time, I’m sure I would have been a flapper girl, and that’s why it seemed very appropriate to call her that, a character based on my own history and personality.
But when I refer to “adventurous” it is not only to refer to taking risks or being fearless or risky, I also mean being vulnerable, having a heart open to love, and therefore, being exposed to being broken. But that doesn’t stop me from trying again and continuing on my path, accepting and opening myself up again to new possibilities.
“Every sip of tequila is an attempt to anesthetize the broken heart…
a way to drown grief in a liquor that burns as hot as your loss…”
C.E.