Hope and sorrow may seem like opposites; but they can co-exist in the same space. When hope dissipates, it can leave behind sorrow and when one is engulfed in sorrow, hope can be the light that guides you out. Sometimes, you cannot have one without the other. This series aims to capture the complex emotions that are contained within me. I have come to understand more deeply how hope and sorrow intertwine, each influencing and amplifying the other. My work has given me the space to navigate these conflicting emotions and cycles, revealing that I can embody multiple truths at once.
I find myself in a season that could be titled "Loss." This feeling ebbs and flows, ensnaring me in a circular motion of hope and sorrow. Contributing to this sense is the fluctuating political environment. The overturn of Roe v. Wade and other events have engendered a collective feeling of despair over parts of the community of women. I and many others feel dread and voiceless about the future. However, the circle of hope and sorrow, reminds me that despite the sorrow, there is always hope in the act of creation.
Carrie Mae Weems once said, “Art is the one place we all turn to for solace.” I can relate to this sentiment in my own practice. Art allows our voices to be heard and serves as a vital means of expressing our innermost feelings, enabling others to connect with us on a deeper level.
My journey has taken me to places of deep sorrow and to moments I can hold on to hope for the future. While working on this project, I have noticed the recurrence of circles in seemingly random moments. I find this interesting, as the circle is my favorite shape due to its seamless connectedness and the cycle that now confines me. Circles symbolize oneness and completion, reminding me that even though this season of "Loss" feels endless, nothing is permanent. This thought gives me hope that, one day, things will change for the better. I hope that by sharing the emotions usually kept bottled up inside me, others in my community will find a connection to my work, and together we can navigate a way out of the cycle of hope and sorrow.
