WEEK 22
Hey there, thanks for joining us for Week 22 of HOMwork 2020!
A quick note before we begin:
I hesitated on whether or not to send this week's prompt out at all. There's a fight against racial injustice in America that needs our attention and energy, yet creativity/making stuff is how most artists cope and process.
I want to make it very clear that I stand with the Black Lives Matter movement and support the protestors. The murder of unarmed black people at the hands of the police must stop, and if you agree, I encourage you to donate money, use your voice and commit to educating yourself on the issues facing the black community in America. (If you're a non-black person choosing to make art about current events, please read & reflect upon this thoughtful article from designer Schessa Garbutt.)
I believe creative respite is a necessary tool if we want to sustain long-term allyship and social change. Make passion projects and make sure you go vote. Draw and donate (if you can). We have the capacity to make room for both art and activism.
HOMwork has become something that many of you look forward to receiving every Friday for the past 3 years, and guest assignments are planned months in advance. I'm choosing to publish this assignment for those of you who need it as a way to rest & recharge for the fight for justice ahead.
-Lauren
This week, we have the talented Wanissa Somsuphangsri as a guest teacher.
Born and raised in Bangkok, Wanissa is a letterer, illustrator and designer living in Melbourne. Wanissa’s creative work is fueled by her multicultural upbringing, her fascination with the botanical world and also her yearning to travel. Wanissa loves all things handmade and recently started a fun project called Dapper Pupper, where she sews and paints personalised bandanas for dogs.
From Wanissa:
What inspires your creative work?
For me, inspiration is when I stumble into ghost signs or admire the way a gelateria’s beautiful green wall matches its counter tiles. This is why I love travelling so much. From the old and run-down guay-tiaw (noodle) shop in Bangkok, to the large LED screens of New York and Tokyo, to the mystifying foggy mountains of Bhutan, travelling is an absolute feast to the curious design eye and mind.
While we are currently keeping each other safe by staying home, being in confinement has really made me appreciate my travel experiences. Out of the 31 cities and 17 countries I have visited, Bangkok has left the biggest mark on me. With its traffic jams, beautiful temples and delicious street food, Bangkok is my birthplace and second home.
So, what’s your significant place?
Your assignment: Create a greeting card featuring your favourite city/place.
This could be somewhere you once travelled to and fell in love with, somewhere you were born, or a place you feel creatively drawn to, etc. If you’re stuck, go with somewhere you’re currently living in!
Some examples of some phrases you could letter:
“Greetings from...”
“Hello from…”
“I left my heart in …..”
Let me know in the caption what this place means to you!
The goal of this assignment is not only to shed light on multiculturalism but also to ask ourselves what inspires our work. Rather than looking online to see what other people are doing, this assignment encourages us to look within ourselves and search for what inspires us individually and develop a style that is unique to ourselves. =)
Don’t forget to use the hashtag #HOMwork2020 and tag @wanisssa and @homsweethom when you post your work on Instagram. We’ll be sharing our favorites in our Stories all week!
x Wanissa and Lauren
P.S. Wanissa runs an adorable project, Dapper Pupper, creating customized bandanas for dogs. It's a great example of combining two things you're a big fan of to create an awesome passion project! Be sure to check it out.
