Not Meant To Be in Motion
Not Meant To Be in Motion
Animating “Not Meant to Be”: A Fusion of Myth and Motion
In a captivating collaboration with woodcut artist Mai Tran, I breathed life into her intricate print, “Not Meant to Be.” In the quiet realm where woodcut meets pixels, our collaborative art piece, “Not Meant to Be in Motion,” unfolds—a delicate waltz of two fishes, their souls entwined.
The Mythical Narrative
Apollo and Daphne: Inspired by the impossible love story of the Olympian god Apollo and the nymph/huntress Daphne, Mai Tran’s art resonates with longing and transformation.
My Role: Extracting Details and Crafting Motion
Layer Extraction: I meticulously dissected every detail—the two fishes, their tiny fins, fragmented elements, and undulating waves—from Mai Tran’s woodcut.
Redrawing Challenges: Some areas were obscured in the original print, demanding meticulous redrawing to reveal hidden nuances.
Natural Yet Fantastical Movement: I animated these elements, infusing them with life. The fishes glide in a dance that feels both earthly and otherworldly.
The Meeting
Carp with Dragon Head (Left): Emerging from Vietnamese mythology, this carp embodies hope. Its dragon transformation remains a distant dream—a dance of yearning.
Walleye Fish (Right): Minnesota’s own, echoing the Greek myth of Apollo and Daphne. It pulls away, its scales shimmering like broken ice—a poignant metaphor for uncertainty.
Harmony of Souls
Their Eyes Meet: Across the digital canvas, their gaze locks—a recognition of shared longing.
Fins Brushing: They glide, their fins brushing in a rhythm that transcends time. A dance of unity, of whispered secrets.
The Bittersweet Farewell
Tides Shift: As the chanty fades, their dance slows. The carp’s scales shimmer, and the walleye retreats.
Separation: The impossible love story echoes—the nymph slipping through Apollo’s grasp.
Vanishing Echoes: The walleye and the carp dissolve into pixels, turning the whole universe into darkness.
Conclusion
“Not Meant to Be in Motion” captures the fragile balance of pursuit and acceptance. Through motion, we breathe new life into ancient tales. In their separation, the fishes whisper: “Perhaps in another universe, our dance finds its crescendo.”.