In such uncertain times, I find myself feeling helpless and frustrated that I cannot do anything to improve my situation or the situations of others. Never before have we had such an awareness of our bodies and all of their strengths and weaknesses. My final project human is a series of prints chronicling my feelings in response to the COVID-19 pandemic as well as a commentary on what it means to be human. I used a combination of trace monotype and pages of an old travel magazine about China to piece together a narrative that utilizes body parts as its subject. 

Kiki Smith once remarked on her printmaking process that "you don't have to know what you're doing - just show up." This quote struck me as a representation of authenticity, one of the most challenging and valuable traits to have as a human being. Being vulnerable or caring for yourself or others can be difficult during dark times. I chose to make feet/legs the focus of this print as they symbolize movement and direction and hold great physical strength. 

The title for this print comes from a poem written by Naoki Higashida, a celebrated Japanese author diagnosed with autism. In his poem, Higashida repeats the phrase "it can't be helped" and uses it to display acceptance and hope rather than surrender. I chose to make the hands the focus of this print as they are the tools we use the most to create and be productive and one of the most expressive parts of our body. For better or worse, we often find value in productivity and are distressed when we cannot be productive in our usual way. 

Eyes hold a certain spark representative of what a person is thinking or feeling. Eyes can be filled with tears while bearing witness and seeking opportunities and hope. The dual nature of eyes reflects the definition of resilience - a quiet fire.