INDEPENDENT: "On Pause"

Artist statement:

Things have started looking up recently but I'm not gonna hold my breath yet. I drew this with all the goals I had in mind for 2020. I was planning to spend most of the year in Japan, go to Comiket, visit Mount Fuji, fill up my goshuincho, etc. All these dreams and goals I had in mind felt like they were in the palm of my hand. Most of all, I was looking forward to taking a manga class. For 2 years I struggled to reach my goal to study abroad just for that one class. I'm glad I was able to take it. But I feel that not being physically there affected my performance.

I used my manga screentones that I got for my class for this piece. It emphasizes the importance of that class to me. I was watching a video on the coronavirus and the uploader of the video said that for now, we need to put our goals on pause. It's time to be there for each other and take care of ourselves. So there's a pause button in the middle of the picture. I anticipate returning to Japan in January of 2021, where I can then resume my goals.

Created with manga screentones