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These Days

by Heidi Cho on May 2nd, 2020 in

[image descriptions available for each frame as image alt text, or at the bottom of the page]

A text message conversation between two people is illustrated: A: “hi Angel! how your heart today?” (2:04pm) A: “i’m thinking of you [heart emoji]” (2:05pm) B: “i'm feeling so much better today. i felt so manic all week.” (5:17pm) B: “thank goodness it’s sunny again. how are you?” (5:19pm) A: “i'm so glad today feel better! i'm hanging in there. ups and downs…” (7:50pm) Underneath, the caption: i've lost track of the days. each day gets categorized between good days + harder ones. i feel so appreciative of the ways it’s become normalized to talk about mental health.

. A drawing of a person with long dark hair and headphones crying, with a tree on either side in the background. To the right is text: “there are some moments, where the feelings of grief and loneliness sit heavily in my chest. i think about how familiar these feelings can be for queers + trauma survivors. one day, I go to the park + cry as I listen to the bodyguard soundtrack. thank goodness for whitney houston. she just gets it.”

A drawing of a person with long hair. In the background is a tree with bare brunches, and the sun. The text above the drawing reads, “my days are punctuated by the routine of walks. some days are easier than others to go outside.” To the left of the drawing, “when the sun peeks out, it feels like a big treat. i slow down to face the sun, and let the spring rays warm my winter face.”

A drawing of five pink tulips in a mason jar that is filled up with water about a third of the way. To the left is written, “i've developed a renewed appreciation for ritual pleasures. morning coffee. watering plants. making bed.” To the right is written, “i worry a lot. about money, my aging parents, my future, isolated community members + friends working the frontlines.”

A drawing of a tree with red buds on its branches. To the right of the drawing is written: “the tree outside my bedroom window is starting to bloom. it reminds me of a lesbian poet, mary oliver, who writes about the continuity of nature admist suffering. I try to remember the natural cycle of growth + change happening all around me, even while time feels stuck + slow.”

Text surrounded by waved lines, the text reads: "growth is still happening all around me even while feeling stuck."

Image descriptions

1. A text message conversation between two people is illustrated:

A: “hi Angel! how your heart today?” (2:04pm)
A: “i’m thinking of you [heart emoji]” (2:05pm)
B: “i’m feeling so much better today. i felt so manic all week.” (5:17pm)
B: “thank goodness it’s sunny again. how are you?” (5:19pm)
A: “i’m so glad today feel better! i’m hanging in there. ups and downs…” (7:50pm)

Underneath, the caption: i’ve lost track of the days. each day gets categorized between good days + harder ones. i feel so appreciative of the ways it’s become normalized to talk about mental health.

2. A drawing of a person with long dark hair and headphones crying, with a tree on either side in the background. To the right is text: “there are some moments, where the feelings of grief and loneliness sit heavily in my chest. i think about how familiar these feelings can be for queers + trauma survivors. one day, I go to the park + cry as I listen to the bodyguard soundtrack. thank goodness for whitney houston. she just gets it.”

3. A drawing of a person with long hair. In the background is a tree with bare brunches, and the sun. The text above the drawing reads, “my days are punctuated by the routine of walks. some days are easier than others to go outside.” To the left of the drawing, “when the sun peeks out, it feels like a big treat. i slow down to face the sun, and let the spring rays warm my winter face.”

4. A drawing of five pink tulips in a mason jar that is filled up with water about a third of the way. To the left is written, “i’ve developed a renewed appreciation for ritual pleasures. morning coffee. watering plants. making bed.” To the right is written, “i worry a lot. about money, my aging parents, my future, isolated community members + friends working the frontlines.”

5. A drawing of a tree with red buds on its branches. To the right of the drawing is written: “the tree outside my bedroom window is starting to bloom. it reminds me of a lesbian poet, mary oliver, who writes about the continuity of nature admist suffering. I try to remember the natural cycle of growth + change happening all around me, even while time feels stuck + slow.”

6. Text surrounded by waved lines, the text reads: “growth is still happening all around me even while feeling stuck.”

 

 

Heidi Cho

Heidi Cho is a multi-disciplinary artist based in Toronto.  Using a range of mediums such as ceramics, illustration and storytelling, Cho explores narratives around intergenerational trauma, mental health, queerness and diasporic Korean identity.  Her illustration work has appeared in C Magazine, GUTS Magazine, Shameless Magazine and Cleo Magazine.  Her visual work has been showcased in The Gardiner Museum, The Art Gallery of Ontario and Doris McCarthy Gallery UTSC.  @heidichomakesart

Read all posts by Heidi Cho

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