A THEMATIC STUDY EXPLORING GRIEF THROUGH THE SOUL OF MOTORCYCLING

A sketch-book visual essay exploring grief through a journey taken between a protagonist [inspired by my lost friend] and their mechanical avatar- the motorcycle.

Together, they experience six stages of the ultimate motorcycling journey: Worship, Freedom, Companionship, Fetish, Anarchy and Death.

The raw aesthetic of both motorcycle and animated storyboards reflect the senseless experience that inspired it.

Animated Short (Please click on above image to view)

Inspiration collage image stills above were inspired by the works of Aboubacar Traoré’s Inch’Allah series (2015), archived photography from LIFE Magazine, and Miss Atomic.

MOTORCYCLING AS AN ACT OF WORSHIP

THE FEELING OR EXPRESSION OR REVERENCE AND ADORATION FOR A DEITY

The protagonist derives their identity from both the free spirit of my friend, Theandrew, and Bessie Stringfield. Bessie was the first female African American cross-country motorcyclist whose travels brought light to many during during the height of Jim Crow-era America. Both of these individuals found themselves whole- closer to a higher being- during the act of motorcycling.

FREEDOM

THE POWER TO BE AS ONE WANTS WITHOUT HINDRANCE OR RESTRAINT

The bliss of riding through an empty city at night- claiming it as your own, and accompanied by a group of a like-minded gang- these are the moments that feed the protagonist’s heart.

COMPANIONSHIP

A FEELING OF FELLOWSHIP OR FRIENDSHIP

The protagonist shares their most intimate joys with a dear loved one- inviting them to experience their world first-hand.

FETISH

AN INANIMATE OBJECT CONSIDERED TO BE INHABITED BY A SPIRIT, AND WORSHIPED FOR ITS MAGICAL POWERS

A FORM OF SEXUAL DESIRE IN WHICH GRATIFICATION IS LINKED TO AN ABNORMAL DEGREE TO A PARTICULAR OBJECT

Motorcycle as a lover- an object of love and affection in the protagonist’s eyes.

ANARCHY

MOTORCYCLING’S CELEBRATION OF A STATE OF DISORDER DUE TO ABSENCE OR NON-RECOGNITION OF AUTHORITY

The spirit gone nuclear: the penultimate high before the fall. It is in this moment that life collides with death, converting the protagonist’s sum life experience into light.

DEATH

THE POWER THAT DESTROYS LIFE

The fatal end: A life robbed, an individual reduced to broken object.