2020 Transformation Stories

 Vanua 

Returning to my Melanesian heritage means a return to myself, my wellness and discovering my own sense of spirituality. My portraits represent the process of breaking free of the colonized mindset; free of the idea that we as people are nothing more than conquered. I’ve become fascinated with decolonization and what that means for our world, both on a collective and individual level. 

Through Grey Eyes

I’m falling in love with the parts of myself that I am taking the time to learn about, nurture and heal. I was inspired by the words of renaissance writer, advocate and Nobel Laureate in literature, Toni Morrison. She once said, “You are your own story and therefore free to imagine and experience what it means to be human constructed.” Labels-- commodified happiness-- constructed identity, is something that I do not have to accept or adhere to it. This series signifies the beginnings of my story, my self- preservation, my rising and journey to my voice, written through my strongest chakra, my eyes.

“The story makes me love you more”

Pieces of Art that are meant to depict my turbulent journey to self. Confusion, anger, pain, and redemption. Writing and drawing have been helpful outlets for me during times of darkness, as sometimes it is difficult to put internal warfare into articulate speech. I still have so much to figure out, but this is a beginning that fills me with optimism. Thank you Adornment stories.

“Invisible to Visible”

My story is about the daily challenges I experienced with chronic pain.

My story displays neutral images like the pillows in image one. To many, pillows are a place to rest our heads at night. However, for me a pillow represents a harbor after a few hours or even minutes of standing or sitting. The pillow provides me necessary relief, where I can successfully return back to studying or working. 

The needles on my body illustrate the literal pain of what the chronic pain feels like, actual “stabbing pain.”  

Lastly, getting to a place of accepting my diagnosis wasn’t all pretty rainbows. I think that there is a misconception that acceptance looks like being in absolute bliss and peace. 

Society vs Me

My project tells the story of a Black Muslim hijabi grappling with the societal negative pressures of wearing a hijab in the western world. I have been wearing the hijab since I was nine-years-old and it has not been an easy journey, especially when the dominant culture around me sees it as something unusual and negative. The western world, in my experience, holds a narrow view of what wearing a hijab means and associates it with being oppressive and anti-feminist. However, this is far from true and in fact the hijab serves for many to be the opposite of oppressive and anti-feminist. For example, I wear the hijab as a way to reclaim my identity, spirituality, femininity, and liberty. Furthermore, there are few positive stories of the hijab being highlighted in the Canadian context and I wanted to contribute my difficult but joyous journey of wearing the hijab. During quarantine for COVID19, I started researching and reflecting on what the hijab means to me and why I took it off at a point in my life and what it would mean to wear it again. I thought about all the judgements and disapprovals that would come as a result of wearing it again. Despite all the negative thoughts that my brain created, I still chose to wear the hijab again because I now believe it is a source of freedom and joy that is strongly tied to my identity. Thus, this project was born

Guérisseuse

This project is about the awareness, and vibrance of my experiences with femininity. A practice of up keeping my spirits high, I attune to the earth below. I make way for the path of my blessings to travel using a bread trail of oils, crystals, botanicals, and my heart that is attached to God. I will respect my natural environments, and all my feelings within them. I allow the flow to touch my soul and awaken parts of me that have been suppressed and almost forgotten due to the sake of survival and growth. Although this journey is mine and mine alone, I hope to know there are others who desire to heal and become who they always wanted to be. On a strict path of gaining back my self-love. Where a paradox of mystery and patience overflows, and where joy always finds a way to seep through into the world giving those a dose of pure positive energy. Although my journey holds unbearable pain, It holds even greater truth towards the reason for my existence. I grow forward into self-love, and consistent self-care, a ritual I call a practice

Which makes me a

born healer using natural

environments

My project is called Cycles, the project seeks to focus on the themes of cycling, mental health, and growth. It seeks to explore my relationship with cycling and the mental health journey that coincided with when I began cycling. Cycling has been an opportunity for me to able to be reflective and exercise. Years spent cycling and the different bikes I have had along the way have also helped me reflect on who I have become. In addition, the bicycle has a way through which I have been able to connect with myself, community, and the world around me. The opportunity cycling and the bike has provided me has allowed me to improve my well-being. The solo cycling trips out into the world has allowed me to step into my light and connect with the natural world. I try and convey a shift in wellbeing through how I position myself and the brightness of the different images.