Jason F., Reach, oil on linen.

Reach is part of a larger polyptych that explores my aspirations and the pursuit of self-contentment and artistic fulfillment. With an outstretched arm, the central figure represents my yearning to reach a place of happiness and contentment in my work. Surrounding the central narrative are figures falling, symbolizing my fears of failure and the risk of falling short of my aspirations. These figures are a stark reminder of the uncertainties and challenges accompanying the pursuit of excellence. The stitching conveys a sense of mending as if trying to heal or stitch together the wounds of failure while maintaining the pursuit of perfection. It’s an acknowledgment that the path toward fulfillment is never seamless but rather a process of repairing and reconnecting with oneself through each setback. Through Reach, I aimed to express the duality of my journey—the hopeful striving towards an ideal future and the ever-present fear of failing to attain it.

Jason F., Genesis, graphite on paper.

ISSUE #7

Jason F. is a Vancouver-based visual artist whose work delves into the complexities of the human experience, often using himself as a canvas for exploration. His practice blends traditional media with deep philosophical and cultural inquiry, drawing from classical and contemporary inspirations. Recently, his work has focused on themes of identity and self-reflection. Jason’s art has been exhibited internationally across disciplines such as illustration, drawing, and design, focusing on personal narrative and emotional depth.

In this piece, I intended to capture the profound internal struggle and self-imposed barriers that often define the creative process. The figure’s contorted posture, with a hand blocking the light, symbolizes the artist's doubts and fears, illustrating how we often obstruct our path to clarity and inspiration. The thorns entwined around the arm represent the sacrifices and emotional toll of pursuing art, each one a metaphor for the personal challenges and pain encountered along the way. The desolate landscape and the bleak sky reflect the solitude and relentless passage of time, emphasizing the isolation and continuous battle artists face in their quest for fulfilment. Through this work, I aimed to convey the tension between aspiration and self-doubt when creating artwork, light and darkness, illustrating how these elements are inevitable for the artist to contemplate on their journey of artistic creation.

‘To the girl in the mirror’ by Anonymous

‘To the girl in the mirror’ explores self-perception and the cost of conformity, capturing the quiet tragedy of shaping oneself to meet external expectations. The contrast between past self-loathing and present acceptance is haunting, particularly because the speaker realizes that, in becoming ‘acceptable,’ they have sacrificed uniqueness. With its direct, confessional tone and sharp emotional shifts, our anonymous author (who has crafted several succinct poems for this issue!) asks what vital parts of ourselves we are willing to lose in order to fit in.