Photo © Neoza Goffin
Creative - NOMINEE: Neoza Goffin
The Rise of a Peculiar Flower with Wicked Roots
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My name is Neoza Goffin. I just finished my bachelor in photography at KASK Ghent, next year I start my master in photography. This project is my bachelor thesis. This work is presented in a book, if you wish to see it you can find a video on my website of it.
www.neozagoffin.com
The Rise of a Peculiar Flower with Wicked Roots, Neoza Goffin, 2019
“Due to a sexual trauma at the age of fourteen and a relationship with a boy who imprisoned me psychologically, I never used to like sex, I even hated it. Dealing with a four-year depression in my youth was not easy for me and my environment. At the age of eighteen I finally had the courage to put an end to my current relationship, I wanted to focus on myself and on my photography studies. A few months later I met Bieke. She changed my life. I had sex with a girl for the first time and I loved it.
My sexuality and my personality bloomed. I concluded that I was a lesbian and I felt very good about that. The two-year relationship with Bieke was a great learning process and an enjoyable period for both of us, but it was not meant to last. In the summer of 2017 I unexpectedly fell in love with a boy. I fought against these unwanted feelings but they were stronger than myself, apparently I am bisexual. After a summer full of suffering, loss, shame and anger, I chose him. My sexual interest in men had been stuck behind a wall due to past issues. But he was able to bypass this wall, this defense, and let it fade away. The cracks in my heart could finally heal, I thought. Recognizing how much he loved me, he had started to think about a serious life and realized that he wanted to become a better Muslim. The differences between our life goals became bigger. We did everything in our power to make it work but we had to break up.
I was emotionally not ready to start my third bachelor in photography at KASK in Ghent. Therefore I decided to do cohousing and take a sabbatical year. “It is time to fly”, I concluded.
My sabbatical year was all about experimenting, pushing boundaries and self-knowledge. I have experimented with Tinder dates with girls and boys, I have discovered a techno/fetish world and I have tried BDSM. My sexuality has flourished even more in this year.
I have tested bad drugs but then disapproved them and I did some research into good drugs like psychedelics and have become a big fan of them. When used properly they are non-damaging and they have opened a new view on life for me. Psychedelics are also used medically to stop alcohol, cocaine and nicotine addictions.
I have traveled through Europe and especially to Berlin. The streets of Berlin are like theaters, open 24/7. When people look at each other, they enjoy the diversity instead of being
judgmental. Techno is the music of choice, yet you can find any kind of music there. Sex is a very normal subject there: everyone needs it and everyone does it. Entertaining and making life interesting are the main goals in Berlin. The mix of industrial landscape, nature and colorful graffiti is a sight for sore eyes. Respect for nature and each other is key and the vegetarian and vegan options are endless.
I went to Goa festivals that are accompanied by love for each other and nature. Goa is the modern hippie culture. The sphere is colorful, happy, united and bonded.
To be happy you have to create a bubble around you with people that fit into your bubble because it is impossible to be friends with everyone. Don’t stay where you are tolerated, go where you are celebrated.
I have practiced yoga and meditation, shamanism has come across my path and I have generally engaged in much spiritual activity. I feel awakened.
Bieke (my ex-girlfriend) and I have become inseparable and our bond is stronger than ever. Instead of treating each other as ‘exes’, as society tells you to do, we have learned from our mistakes and have become even closer. Our relationship feels like a sister band now. I have also become very good friends with my ex-boyfriend.
In summary, I have discovered my true nature and the habitat where I belong. I have found a very strong Joy of Life that is still growing and I can find happiness in the smallest things. I hope that as many people as possible will find this joy in their own way without harming anybody or anything. Be grateful for everything and don’t forget to be thankful to be.
About author:
Neoza Goffin is a Belgian student photographer. She is currently studying photography at KASK Ghent. Her first big project was her final work in high school which handled about feminism. Her giant collage made from 96 pictures of women's breasts won a price given by the Academy for visual arts in Aalst. The collage was also bought by the breast clinic in OLVZ Aalst.
Feminism, womanhood and female nudity remained central themes in her work. Her latest projects can be described as sexual, psychedelic, provocative and very personal.
www.neozagoffin.com
The Rise of a Peculiar Flower with Wicked Roots, Neoza Goffin, 2019
“Due to a sexual trauma at the age of fourteen and a relationship with a boy who imprisoned me psychologically, I never used to like sex, I even hated it. Dealing with a four-year depression in my youth was not easy for me and my environment. At the age of eighteen I finally had the courage to put an end to my current relationship, I wanted to focus on myself and on my photography studies. A few months later I met Bieke. She changed my life. I had sex with a girl for the first time and I loved it.
My sexuality and my personality bloomed. I concluded that I was a lesbian and I felt very good about that. The two-year relationship with Bieke was a great learning process and an enjoyable period for both of us, but it was not meant to last. In the summer of 2017 I unexpectedly fell in love with a boy. I fought against these unwanted feelings but they were stronger than myself, apparently I am bisexual. After a summer full of suffering, loss, shame and anger, I chose him. My sexual interest in men had been stuck behind a wall due to past issues. But he was able to bypass this wall, this defense, and let it fade away. The cracks in my heart could finally heal, I thought. Recognizing how much he loved me, he had started to think about a serious life and realized that he wanted to become a better Muslim. The differences between our life goals became bigger. We did everything in our power to make it work but we had to break up.
I was emotionally not ready to start my third bachelor in photography at KASK in Ghent. Therefore I decided to do cohousing and take a sabbatical year. “It is time to fly”, I concluded.
My sabbatical year was all about experimenting, pushing boundaries and self-knowledge. I have experimented with Tinder dates with girls and boys, I have discovered a techno/fetish world and I have tried BDSM. My sexuality has flourished even more in this year.
I have tested bad drugs but then disapproved them and I did some research into good drugs like psychedelics and have become a big fan of them. When used properly they are non-damaging and they have opened a new view on life for me. Psychedelics are also used medically to stop alcohol, cocaine and nicotine addictions.
I have traveled through Europe and especially to Berlin. The streets of Berlin are like theaters, open 24/7. When people look at each other, they enjoy the diversity instead of being
judgmental. Techno is the music of choice, yet you can find any kind of music there. Sex is a very normal subject there: everyone needs it and everyone does it. Entertaining and making life interesting are the main goals in Berlin. The mix of industrial landscape, nature and colorful graffiti is a sight for sore eyes. Respect for nature and each other is key and the vegetarian and vegan options are endless.
I went to Goa festivals that are accompanied by love for each other and nature. Goa is the modern hippie culture. The sphere is colorful, happy, united and bonded.
To be happy you have to create a bubble around you with people that fit into your bubble because it is impossible to be friends with everyone. Don’t stay where you are tolerated, go where you are celebrated.
I have practiced yoga and meditation, shamanism has come across my path and I have generally engaged in much spiritual activity. I feel awakened.
Bieke (my ex-girlfriend) and I have become inseparable and our bond is stronger than ever. Instead of treating each other as ‘exes’, as society tells you to do, we have learned from our mistakes and have become even closer. Our relationship feels like a sister band now. I have also become very good friends with my ex-boyfriend.
In summary, I have discovered my true nature and the habitat where I belong. I have found a very strong Joy of Life that is still growing and I can find happiness in the smallest things. I hope that as many people as possible will find this joy in their own way without harming anybody or anything. Be grateful for everything and don’t forget to be thankful to be.
About author:
Neoza Goffin is a Belgian student photographer. She is currently studying photography at KASK Ghent. Her first big project was her final work in high school which handled about feminism. Her giant collage made from 96 pictures of women's breasts won a price given by the Academy for visual arts in Aalst. The collage was also bought by the breast clinic in OLVZ Aalst.
Feminism, womanhood and female nudity remained central themes in her work. Her latest projects can be described as sexual, psychedelic, provocative and very personal.