Expanding on a visual direction explored in his spec 2020 title sequence “We Were Young”, CG artist Fabian Aerts releases the striking and introspective short film Pieces built around the concept “You are your worst enemy”.

Fabian Aerts in Brussels: “Nothing manipulates you more than your thoughts, nothing limits you more than your fears, and nothing controls you more than your beliefs.

“Pieces is a representation of the inner battle that everyone leads against themselves. The idea of the film was to materialize the psychological wounds that we continually inflict on ourselves and to symbolize the demons that eat you inside.

“On a more personal level, the film symbolizes a fierce struggle I have had with myself over the past few months. I think that all artists are or will probably be confronted with it one day. I am talking about those permanent and unexplained moments of anguish where doubt and fear predominate and drive you completely crazy.
 

“The fight is certainly not over and I am fully aware of that. My ‘other’ will always lurk in the shadows, waiting for any opportunity to return.”

 
“Why artists, more than others? because we are emotional sponges and constantly exposing ourselves and challenging ourselves is an inexorable part of the creative process. The fear of failing, of not being up to the task, or simply of disappointing is omnipresent.

“The fight is certainly not over and I am fully aware of that. My ‘other’ will always lurk in the shadows, waiting for any opportunity to return.

“But fortunately time taught me to detect the signs and understand the mechanics that brought me to this intense emotional state. I come out of it today grown up. For a long time, I thought it was a weakness, but I decided to make it a strength and it completely reversed the perspective.

“I hope this film will echo with people who are going through these difficult but very necessary times in your personal building process. Take care, we are all in the same boat.”
 

 
Director/animator: Fabian Aerts

Music: Aeph “The March”