Wishing and Hoping, 2023

Hand Embroidery and Felt on Calico, 50cm x 53cm

It felt sort of futile making this but I had to make it all the same. I had to use what little power i have to put towards something that is so painfully important and simple to me, yet so politicised and complicated by others. I had to use the skills I have at hand to make something which expresses a deep guttural need, a plea to people in the west to remember to protect their health, and to protect others, like me who are disabled, chronically ill, immune-compromised by masking so that we can partake in society safely.

Many disabled people have given up hope/asking/trying to educate 4 years into a pandemic, because of the amount of energy it takes on top of everything else we have to deal with. Many feel hopeless, alone, isolated and neglected because the majority of society cant do one small action to protect a minority (disabled people make up at least 25% of the worlds population btw). I made this artwork despite that because im a disabled artist and its all i can do. I was really warmed by the response as 99% of it was from other Disabled and Immunocompromised people who saw that they’re not alone, and people out there are still masking to protect themselves, their loved ones and strangers. It gave me hope and made me feel less alone too. Some people called the art shit and lashed out at being reminded there is a pandemic ongoing and that their actions matter, but that is to be expected when the common consensus is that the pandemic is over and covid is no longer a threat.

No one is perfect, but our actions arent in isolation, we are all part of society. We should all be demanding clean air/improved ventilation, vaccines, masks and other protections as part of a well rounded response to a deadly and disabling virus.