 |
| 'garden gathering' mini comic . 2020 |
illustrations for 'garden gathering' mini comic . 2020
i write this post as ramadan slowly comes to a close. and what a strange ramadan it's been. i'm still quarantined at home, with the occasional stepping out for running errands. ramadan is usually filled with gatherings amongst friends and family, yet this year no one has been able to do so. and for those not following social distancing rules have faced the consequences – news reports mention cases where communal gatherings have occurred and those in attendance were exposed to the virus. so ramadan this year has been quite intimate and simple for me – staying at home for most of the time, and experiencing it with just my mother and sister.
in terms of making work, i feel a momentum slowly picking up again. since my last post, i've been drawing more, and had the opportunity to work on a couple of illustration-based projects, one being the mini comic you see above. titled 'garden gathering', this short story is about longing for interaction with the outside world, and making new friends where you least expect it. here's a quick description:
my time of late involves staring into the distance from my balcony at home, missing the outside world and the people i interact with. and yet, i've made new friends during my time indoors – a lovely pigeon who stops by for a break at my window, and a cat who's made the outdoor garden her new home. we keep each other company every afternoon, until we part ways in anticipation of gathering again the next day.
'garden gathering' was originally commissioned for warehouse 421's "jam'atna" series, in collaboration with artist and educator rania jishi of naqd critique, and independent consultant and creative nahla tabaa. "jam'atna", which translates to 'our gathering', invited a group of artists to interpret what gathering and being together means during these quarantined times, especially during the month of ramadan. i'm really happy with the final result of the mini comic, and can't thank the team behind "jam'atna" for the opportunity. it definitely sparked my drive to create once again, and i hope i can keep the momentum going. if you'd like to have a look at the other "jam'atna" contributions, head to the highlights section on warehouse 421's instagram page.
until the next post, stay safe, healthy and indoors.