This image functions as a whimsical and quietly profound visual metaphor for a sabbatical year. The juxtaposition of me reclining in a bathtub—an object synonymous with rest and cleansing—against the backdrop of overgrown grass, rusted farm equipment, and the wild encroachment of nature, immediately invites interpretation.
The choice of setting, far removed from domestic comfort, adds depth. The bathtub, now dislocated from its traditional role, becomes a throne of introspection in the wilderness. The lush, untamed grass cradles the scene, suggesting growth, freedom, and the slow but inevitable reclaiming power of nature. Meanwhile, the rusting machinery, remnants of labor and utility, speaks to the pause from productivity that a sabbatical often implies. It is both a literal and metaphorical “letting things go to seed.”
What makes the image compelling is its stillness—I don’t look at the camera. My gaze is directed off-frame, my body relaxed, as though meditating or simply existing. The pose, casual yet deliberate, embodies the spirit of disengagement from haste. However, this retreat isn’t escapism; rather, it’s a confrontation with stillness and solitude. There’s an edge of humor too—bathing in grass next to a plow feels absurd yet liberating.
Photo by Sonia Ibáñez Pérez