What the strong can do

2020
watercolor on paper
39.2 x 53.5 cm

Special note:

I have thoughts for this work one day before having a dream about my aunt. The feelings were quite dull, suppressed. There was no way to feel what was happening both in my head and the outside world.

At one point, I had the attempt to give up on my painting, as I did not know what to do next for it until I dreamed about my aunt. I woke up and noticed I have some tears in my eyes. I found out I was burying my feelings, so tight, for it to not remind me about my hardships. It is not that the hardships aren’t beautiful or meaningful, but hardships are hardships – they are hard and heavy to take on, naturally.

I was given a hug in my dream, then I realize I need to give myself a hug too when I wake up. We all should. We are living through the hard time. We are working in ways we can to get ourself up, and ready for another tomorrow. It can be the exhaustion that blur our eyes and numb our hearts, but once we take a closer look we will see how strong we have been and will continue to be, together.