 |
| season's greetings . 2024 |
and here we are, another year has comes to a close. what a blessing it is to have survived one more year on this planet. as always, both the good and bad were experienced. it was also a year of self reflection and tackling some of my own struggles in attempt to achieving personal growth. not sure if i succeeded, but a sense of acknowledgement of where i lack is a small win i guess.
reflecting on this past year, here are a few thoughts on 2024:
- after a year of being evicted from my studio, i've slowly moved into a new space i'm sharing with a couple of my trusted friends and art peers. more on that once it's all official, but i'm stoked to have a studio space again!
- i let go of my car of 20 years that i loved, and got myself a vehicle of the times! tears were shed, saying goodbye was hard, but it was the right thing to do. i made a little comic about it in case you missed it – see here.
- after deciding last year to work from the periphery of the local art circus away from the clowns in it, i felt like i was able to let go of some of my frustrations and find my voice again, figuring out the things that bring me joy about being an artist. and with that came the right kind of projects, clients, and collaborations. i had a busy year working on some of my favourite projects, both client-based and self-initiated – please check out previous posts. i still have a few more to post about so stay tuned...
- music played an even bigger role this year than usual – i attended a handful of live concerts both at home and abroad, and danced as much as i could with loved ones and strangers, sweating out life's many troubles. i've also returned to my love for dance music, it's impact reflected in a few projects i worked on this year. maybe i should start making playlists to share with you all! let's see if 2025 makes space for that...
- now to throw a lil' shade – everyone seems to be a dj or a podcast host these days! and almost everyone's a glorified artist, designer or curator!!! it's so insulting, especially when many have taken years to hone their craft. but as a friend recently told me "it's all just a hustle [...] and is also a new form of narcissism [...]". i completely agree.
- i've been let down by many individuals this year who i considered my peers. it became obvious to me how assumptions were made about myself and my practise – as an illustrator, i'm not a real artist nor graphic designer. and as an artist, i'm not scholarly enough nor carry myself as some sort of intellect. i guess i don't have the same 'cultural currency' as some of my contemporaries. all because my aspirations aren't about gallery representation, falling into some power list, making works that take over entire courtyards, or forcibly insert myself within pretentious cultural circles and activities.
- i struggled this year with a lack of self-worth. at the end of my thirties, i wish i was in a better place with decluttering my life, as well as in the health and fitness department. i think i garnered some self-confidence close to the end of the year, and i hope to carry it into 2025, being a bit more kinder to myself, and showing a little more self-love.
- through all of life's ups and downs, i'm blessed to have a family that's there in times of need. from my real family to friends that have become chosen family, i know i can count on a support system that shows up when needed.
- with the atrocities happening around the world, i have to remind myself that i'm blessed and privileged for what i have, and am thankful for it almost everyday.
- a takeaway from 2024 – change is something inevitable. and living in a city like dubai, change is a constant! i've finally learnt to embrace change, and accept that it's not always a bad thing. re-sharing an earlier post where i elaborate on change here.
i think that's all for this last post of the year. season's greetings to everyone and may 2025 be a good year to us all. the image above is my end of year print i worked on and am pretty chuffed about! i made twenty two of these (wanted to do twenty four but ran out of paper). if anyone wants one, please reach out.
see y'all next year...
