Unity
The human body is made of approximately
30 trillion cells.
With each cell being a unique organism
that can only exist in relation to the whole.
Some provide food, some become skin to contain,
some provide thought, some transport oxygen.
The cells live their life cycles unaware
of the collective being, they are providing for.
Yet, through this selfless collectivism,
emerges life.
The work challenged the viewers perceptive on what human behaviour and identity. The film presents a recreation of the creation myth, and the emergence of a first multicellular organism. What if the collectivism cells showcase, were also reflected in how humans connect and co-exist? Are you aware of what you are contributing to? You are as connected with other life as your cells are to each other.
Even though from a far perspective, multicellular organisms seem like individuals, in reality, they are biological collectives. Through the unity of cells and their co-dependent symbiosis, organic matter has managed to grow in countless biological forms. Blindly morphing, in an algorithmic dance of body possibilities, earning countless abilities for each collective to navigate their environment.
In the first part, the film explores the myth of creation. Three anthromorph creator archetypes, create the first humxn out of two parts. They represent the mud and water that many religions believe the first humans were formed with. It also represents the dualities of sperm/ovary and body/spirit. They then “blow into its nostrils the breath of life” which is represented with a shower of smoke. That was inspired by the hydrothermal vents in underwater caves which support life forms who are not dependant on solar power, but chemosynthesis. It is theorized that this environment could be ideal for the chemical evolution that created life, making it a possible originator of life on earth.
The second part depicts the creation of the first biological cell. “First, all there was, was one” talks about the mystical moment when the first organism would have been created, “Adam”. “Then one became many” refers to the first division on this organism. The moment when, one, stopped being one, “Eve”, who is presented after the first division.
“And many became one again” refers to the birth of the collective subject, embodied by the 3rd division where 8 cells have formed. They all have different anatomical features in their heads to show their evolution/individualization as cells, and all reference patterns of life on Earth. Trough their dance, they symbolize unity and highlight the beauty and power of the collectivity.
You are not a single organism.
You are unity.
The masks were inspired to represent cellular diviasion and differentiation within one whole organism. I became fascinated by the individualization that cells take even though they all started from the same first one. In their own roles, every cell is needed to perform what it can best for the harmonious faction of the whole. I find this being reflected in many different dynamics like for example, how all individual creatures on earth need to co-exist harmoniously for the planet to faction healthily. Everywhere you look, you will find the beauty that arises from unity. I chose thus to make face organs inspired by different biological manifestations on earth, and bridge all life in one, as if all animals are cells themselves, that contribute to one bigger organism, they can't even fathom.
Portrait anthromorphs embodied by
in alphabetical order
Nikita Cindy
Kat Hawkins
Kamya
Julia Monae
Precious Opara
Ricardo Roberto
Cinnamon Tatham
Credits of Unity
Director anthromorph
Cinematographer Melina Petsolari
Editors Melina Petsolari & Constantine
Prop designer & maker anthromorph
Sound anthromorph
Graphics Studio Dosage
Makeup Chloe Pepworth
Anthromorphs embodied by
in alphabetical order
Constantine
Eve Edwards
Kamya
Julia Monae
Precious Opara
Ricardo Roberto
Bilan Suliman
Cinnamon Tatham
