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.
Nancy L., Untitled, oil pastel on paper.
Nancy L. is a passionate artist who started drawing at the age of 2. She finds peace in using art as a form of expression and sharing her passions with those around her.
The tranquility of a quiet lake and a village in Spring. The peacock’s tail blends into the flowers, which flow around the whole composition, hugging the clear water that reflects the mirroring blue sky, representing the peaceful coexistence of nature, animals, and humanity.
Featured Works
‘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.
Dr Beukema’s Pick: From the Archives
‘Portrait of a Golden Past’ by Didi Zhuang
Through brilliantly crafted verse, ‘Portrait of a Golden Past’ recounts a narrative so brief yet so detailed it becomes tangible. The picturesque atmosphere is overlayed with artistic emphasis, calling into question the ephemeral nature of memory against the enduring scale of the natural world. Like a melody in your ears, ‘Portrait of a Golden Past’ wavers between the notes of what has been and what always will be.
Editor’s Pick: From the Archives
‘The American Girl Museum, Ravel’s Dead Princess, and The Lady Chapel’ by Irene Zhang
‘The American Girl Museum…’ is a poet’s triptych. Wry yet tender, it is a study of the imposed exhibitionism of girlhood, tokenised as dolls on display, a beautifully tragic composition or corpse. But in assuming the bodies of these women and girls, Zhang grants them a voice—carefree cries for a game of hide and seek; a sister’s final musings. Best read with one browser tab pulled up to catch any allusions and Ravel’s Pavane playing in another.
Editor’s Pick: From the Archives