Shattered

Shattered explores the intersection of technology and storytelling, blending my engineering background with artistic expression. Through the journey of a small robot navigating an ethereal space, the film visualizes themes of self-discovery, transition, and identity. Motifs of space research and scientific exploration reinforce curiosity and progress, while the environments bridge past and future, memory and aspiration.

The film’s visual language draws from the colonial architecture of Viejo San Juan and the visionary work of Antoni Gaudí. Growing up surrounded by the vibrant facades and intricate color palettes of Spanish colonial buildings, I developed a deep appreciation for Spain’s architectural heritage. Gaudí’s surreal, organic structures, particularly Casa Batlló, fascinated me for their seamless fusion of engineering and art. His inventive approach to structure and form has shaped my perspective on integrating technical precision with expressive design. By juxtaposing his fluid, sculptural forms with the rigid symmetry of colonial architecture, I sought to capture my own balance between history and innovation, discipline and creativity.

Beyond architectural influences, the film’s interior spaces are deeply personal. The Viejo San Juan apartment reimagines the homes of my childhood, with cream stone tiles serving as a tactile anchor. Their warm tones and textures ground the space in memory, bridging past and present and reinforcing the film’s themes of belonging and transition.

Light and composition play a central role in shaping the film’s dreamlike atmosphere. The stained glass, positioned as a dominant architectural element, casts intricate colors across the scene, dissolving the boundaries between material and immaterial. The interplay of deep ambers and yellows with soft blues and greens enhances the sense of an otherworldly space. The smooth, reflective surfaces of the staircase contrast with the fractured, crystalline edges of the glass, reinforcing themes of fragility and transformation. The void surrounding these elements, shrouded in diffuse darkness, removes traditional spatial constraints and immerses the viewer in an environment that feels both infinite and intimate.

To heighten the contrast between isolation and aspiration, scale plays a crucial role. The towering staircase, suspended in an unending void, exaggerates the robot’s small stature, reinforcing both vulnerability and ambition. Verticality amplifies the enormity of its journey, while the absence of discernible boundaries removes traditional spatial logic and further immerses the viewer in the film’s surreal world.

A pivotal moment unfolds as the robot extends a delicate glass rose toward the stained glass figure, its rigid yet fragile form embodying longing and illusion. The stained glass, with its luminous hues and fragmented geometry, represents an unattainable ideal, beautiful yet unyielding. When it shatters, refracted light replaces its once cohesive image, visually signaling the robot’s awakening. The outer space void left behind suggests that he has reached his destiny. The falling shards of glass symbolize the lingering presence, and lasting influence of those who shaped him. The goddess in the glass, illuminated in rich tones, reflects the guiding forces in my life. Just as her image led the robot into his growth, the encouragement and support of family and friends has shaped my own path.

Inspired by Gaudí’s philosophy of integrating function and expression, I approached Shattered with the same intent, ensuring that every design decision serves both structural purpose and emotional depth. This film reflects my evolution as an engineer, artist, and individual navigating identity, technology, and the spaces between where we come from and where we aspire to be.