APPENDIX 02: A RETROSPECTIVE
"rm -rf /" is a large body of work developed over the span
of almost six months. it represents my fear and paranoia
about the current state of the world.
as an artist, it's tough as hell to make pieces that
revolve around social justice without being cliche.
(like paintings of black bars over a woman's eyes)
how do we interpret our troubles without simply restating them?
how do we talk about our burning planet and culture of fear
in an abstract manner?
how do we speak in code?
that's the big question as an artist. everybody will translate
it differently. while i think my translations are poor
(to say the least,) i'll let you be the judge of that.
these pieces were created during my highest points and my lowest points.
they were created through manic episodes and crippling pain.
but most of all, they were created to rid myself of the awful things
i thought -- and sometimes still think -- about our world.
there is both a freedom and a fear that comes with wrapping up
a long project like this one. i am excited to allow myself to
create freely, any topic, any subject. but if i don't paint about
my anxieties and troubles, then what is there left to paint?
i'll figure it out someday. while i don't know what's next, i do know this:
we cannot fix this shit alone. we must come together. we must respect each other, and we must love each other.
we may not survive otherwise.
thank you for stopping by.
no, seriously. thank you for coming.