FREE ASSOCIATION

Free association is the spontaneous, free flow of logically unconstrained, uncensored, and undirected ideas, emotions, and feelings resulting from specific prompts. This activity is used widely in divergent thinking, or problem solving, to generate numerous ideas to explore. According to Freud and other psychoanalysts, free association provides a window into understanding unconscious processes as it prompts uncensored responses and connections.

57 ACROSS

(2015)
From the series This Is Water.

What is the first thing that comes to mind when you read the word cow? Your response is a free association.

COMMON PARAKEET NO. 7024

(2012)
From the series Birds of a Feather.

VOI

(2011)
For the Jumeirah Zabeel Saray Hotel. Credits: Bronx of Bareface Agency, Chrystel Plischke-Livolsi (styling), Katie Cousins (hair & makeup), Bobbi Lane and David Tejada (lighting design), Belinda Muller (producer).

When building upon concepts or ideas, it’s helpful to use free association to expand on the narrative possibilities and determine what elements you can use to visually represent the concepts you are interested in portraying.