My first illustration of 2021 was for @thismagazine to accompany @merkyy_waters' piece "How to survive a dystopia". A big thank you to AD Valerie Thai for reaching out to work with me on this! My task was to represent a shift into a new(er) world that embodies knowledge & values from disability justice. In thinking of interdependence & community care, I reflected on my own life & different shifts I've made to practice & embody these learnings & also what that has looked like & how it has changed/evolved during quarantimes. And so, I drew upon tarot imagery & self-imagery to draw a figure who I wanted to visually incorporate some of these values. Some may call this a representation of a sort of higher power. I wanted to take some time to write an accompanying description of what this figure means to me -- here it is: 🌌 This figure embodies what I like to call breathing space. They understand how rest revitalates you & those you are in relation to. They are aware of their ever-fluctuating spoons & operate with as much intention as they have access to, to serve themself, their loved ones & their communities. They will show up where & when they can. As much as possible, they refuse to conform to social pressures that urge them to self-sacrifice. They continue to exist in their own time & at their own pace. They know their inherent worth & know that it does not change based on their productivity or performance. They know we deserve better. Even when it's hard to access these knowings on an embodied level, they will make a return to them time & time again. 🌌 Btw, the waveform says "I love you". Image description in comments. https://www.instagram.com/p/CMP7ApOAch-/?igshid=kqic0lzrmtb3
