Image taken by me, Amber Doan in June of 2022. The collection centered on this image saved me through the joy I got from the repetitious exploration of different styles and techniques this composition begged me to create.
You can find the collection here. I hope it brings you joy too
What is this?
and why should you care?
TLDR: This is rebellious joy
June, 2022 Roe v Wade was overturned, which really turned my birthday weekend into a bummer. We were in Chicago celebrating when I heard the news. Tears and protests were now on our- once joyful - itinerary, with only one place I could still look forward to - Shedd's Aquarium. There, we went to immerse ourselves in underwater worlds that know not of politics or bigotry, but only of existing. It was this brief escape where I captured the image of a most unusual creature, an image that saved my psyche over the last few insane years.
I fell in love with this octopus and with the world at large through creating this collection, and considering the tremendous pressure our collective moral atmosphere is under - I squeezed a lot of spite into these marvels - as though the joy from making them was revenge for having to hear about how thoughts and prayers will heal all our wounds…
Joy is rebellious these days.