Based on ideas of Zen Buddhism and rooted in the 7 Grandfather teachings, Sum (Heart) is a rumination on death, grief and letting go. Starting out as a visual mourning song to Wendy Babcock, Mr Toqui Wong and Jack, empty landscapes represent the yearning for the company of dead friends. Water becomes a metaphor for grief and mourning, the ebbs and flows of nature reminds us of the cycle of life which transforms into a stark ode to a new day and new beginnings. I put all my sadness, prayers and hope into this trilogy while still aching for their presence. Looking at the sky, the water and the land, the film wonders if maybe they are still with me. While Jaene’s work spans analogue and digital. She has a dedicated practice of using accessible media that compliments her advocacy work around poverty and trauma. Sum (Heart) was made with Jaene’s iphone 5S for both audio and visual collection. She hopes to show the power of capturing a moment even with only a mobile phone.
