Kiss of the Gypsy

Rumor has it a single kiss from a gypsy possesses the power to permanently alter our perception. The extent of this transformation depends upon the recipient and his or her willingness to believe in the power of that kiss. So if you are ever in the presence of a gypsy, think long and hard about your next move.
The myth of the Kiss of the Gypsy is a metaphor for the idea that exploration is the key to living. As a gypsy's heart is free to roam our good land, so is ours. Whether that good land exists in the abstract realm of our minds or in the external world, it is a world we shape for ourselves. To do so, we must wander: What is life without desire, love passion, intention, manifestations, pleasure, and direction? Why are we here? What are we are meant to achieve while we are here? These questions are mysteries; the answers lie within us. This I can tell you: adventure marks the difference between living and being. I choose to live. Do you choose to follow?

Kiss of the Gypsy is a coffee table book created by Emma Ferreira. It is filled with fun, adventurous, classically beautiful, seductive photographic images that have been shot in hotel rooms all over the world. The artist as subject has embraced the kiss of the gypsy and she tempts the viewer to do the same. The photographs in this collection persuade us to find that place within ourselves where desire and verve can shape adventure and transformation. In other words, Kiss of the Gypsy offers a visual representation of life under the kiss of the gypsy. We are invited to a transformation of character that empowers us to realize we are in command of our dreams via our desires. And so we are all summoned to rendezvous with the gypsy. We all possess the power to be bold enough to follow. 

 
Kiss of the Gypsy is a demonstration of how Emma Ferreira has chosen to live life to the fullest by summoning her illusion into reality. Through the manifestation of conceptually significant form,Kiss of The Gypsy suggests a harmonious relationship between two seemingly contradictory concepts: reality and illusion. By presenting ethereal images of human figures placed within playful and exploratory milieu, Emma effectively achieves a multi-dimensionality that suggests the notion that dream reality can be lived reality, if we dare to explore. With provocative yet chic imagery, Kiss of the Gypsy shares the vital message that desire is the essence of destiny. In doing so, the artist offers up her dreams for us to ponder against our own reality so that we too may identify ourselves as the architects of our existence.
 
To follow the kiss of the gypsy means to embrace your desires and allow them to bring you into un-chartered territory. As part of The Reality of My Illusion (TROMI), the photographs in Kiss of the Gypsy illustrate the role of freedom in our lives and our ability to resist the constraints of life, society, our past, and ourselves. TROMI invites us to choose our destiny: fate and fortuity submit to freedom of the will; the choices we make shape our lives; our lives shape reality; and our illusions come to life. These choices, however, are not merely pragmatic; they have an aesthetic characteristic. They require an aesthetic instinct that provides us with a heightened sensibility for the beauty in life, as well as the creativity to envision a future shaped by desire.
 
A constant work in progress, the TROMI vision is communicated through life and art—life as art—mediated by desire. Kiss of the Gypsy marks the moment when the artist’s vision of life juxtaposes her artistic vision. It expresses the idea that we all possess the instinct for beauty, and if we listen to our aesthetic sensibility, our desires will guide us toward our destiny. TROMI poses two vital questions: What are your dreams? And how do you get there? The answers are not given; they are within us. Whereas the philosophy of TROMI provides us with tools, as well as confidence in knowing that we too can live the illusion of our reality, Kiss of the Gypsyexplores the territory where our answers lie by providing us with a glimpse into a moment of working desire.
 
In reference to Kiss of the Gypsy Emma recalls a childhood anecdote: “My grandmother often told me that I couldn’t have my cake and eat it too. To which I would reply, ‘why then would I want my cake?’” This epitomizes her inability to grasp the idea that she could not both possess the things she wants and consume them. She carried this healthy 6-year old naiveté into her adult life and it has been a vital building black for her success.
 
Perhaps we have been nurtured to think we cannot have what we want. Perhaps it is a fear of failure that hinders our ability to truly live. We must counter our fears and insecurities with foresight and insight. We must trust our instincts, intuition, and desire. We must listen to our aesthetic sensibility. Fear will surely prevent us from seeing all of the beauty that exists behind the scenes. Trust will allow us to peak behind the veil. Curiosity will call us forward to live that beauty. This is the spirit of Kiss of the Gypsy.