Single channel video, H264, 1440×1080, 24fps, Stereo sound, 3’50” (play as loop) 2018
Hayama recounts a strangely intimate encounter with an emu against the tremulous backdrop of projected and re-photographed film footage showing the aforementioned bird behind bars at the zoo. As Hayama filmed the emu, she noticed a tear dropping from the corner of its eye and was inspired to make this film. Even if this teardrop represented nothing more than physiological function designed to remove dust from the emu’s eye, it somehow fascinates the human mind. We see our reflection in the eyes of this non-human creature, and at some point, we begin to think about tears, the power of human empathy, and human existence.