Sanjana Sarah Paul

march 2024

stop motion

limb to limb

Limb to Limb is a personal project originated from a curiosity about human perception, specifically, the way the eye and mind collaborate to form meaning out of fragmented visual cues.

Concept

At its core, this charcoal stop-motion animation explores the psychological phenomenon known as closure: the brain’s ability to perceive a whole image even when parts are missing. The subject of the animation lacks a defined head or torso, yet movement alone enables the viewer to perceive a complete figure.

process

The project began as a simple study using pencil sketches and reference footage of a movement practitioner. I was focused on understanding the flow of the body, how weight shifts, how gestures form, and how motion communicates without relying on full representation. Each frame was drawn to capture the dynamics of movement and the anatomy behind it.

As the work progressed, I transitioned to charcoal. The medium offered a more expressive quality. Its ability to smudge, soften, and exaggerate movement made it well-suited for capturing fleeting, transitional moments.

Each frame was drawn by hand, subtly adjusted, and photographed to create a fluid sequence, one that mimics human motion without ever fully illustrating the human form.