A photo is worth a thousand words and by that definition social media is a library of knowledge.  It the modern world of Instagram, Snapchat, Twitter and Facebook, we receive and instant gratification from visual stimuli but what happens when that well runs dry?   Do we search for authenticity or continue to dwell in a space where copies are printed and pasted, soon to be forgotten amongst the many pixels of the interweb?   I’ll let you decide.

JOMO. Simply put: “The joy of missing out”. It’s the antithesis of FOMO, a word that swept the world a few years ago and perfectly identified the zeitgeist of our instant gratification society. However, what would we come to call the feeling of simply being content with, well, missing out?   In a world where our weekends are populated with events that would be seen as Instagram-worthy, amassing likes and comments, we have become so fixated on being included in everything. The question is, do we really need to fulfil this insatiable need to tick off every social event on our calendar? Why can’t we just be content with being present, in our own company or with those few we hold dear, in a peaceful state and treasuring the moments we have. Life does not always have to consist of grand events and their amassed memories – sometimes a spectacular memory can also be captured on a sunny Sunday afternoon in the park.

Ensō, a Zen Buddhist symbol that encompasses so much, yet seems so divine in its simplicity.   The Ensō symbol consists of either one or two uninterrupted lines, drawn traditionally on washi paper with an ink brush – in true Japanese Calligraphic style. Depending on the motive of the person who draws the Ensō, its shape can vary from closed to open, each differing in meaning. The former, may denote openness and the imperfection of life (much like the wabi-sabi principle), allowing the spirit to breathe and freely move through life. If the Ensō is closed, it may denote perfection and the journey of fulfilment, often referring to cosmology and vastness of the universe.   Ensō, often referred to as ‘Circle of Enlightenment’, symbolises many things, notably: strength, elegance, the universe, single mindedness, the state of mind of the artist whilst creating and the acceptance of imperfection as perfection.   It is said that one cannot simply draw an Ensō and revise it until content with its shape and appearance. It must be practiced in one motion and once the ink touches the paper, no revisions can be made. You only have one attempt, therefore, you must meditate on the Ensō and let its meaning and energy flow through your hand.   I attempted to create an Ensō, albeit non-traditionally, through Adobe Illustrator and found myself entirely perplexed and bound to the beauty and complexity of this exercise. In the end I failed, the Ensō you see before you is an imposter. I revised my Ensō several times, adjusting the brushstrokes, thickness and even colour of the page. I felt a sense of guilt for betraying the long-held and sacred practices followed by so many before me, but it is then that I realised something truly important – I am flawed. By not committing to the core principles of creating an Ensō symbol, it taught me the lesson of patience and single-mindedness. A lesson on how perfection is not always an ideal which one must ceaselessly chase. By admitting my failure, I gained valuable insight.   So, with this seemingly prosaic symbol at first glance, I wish to leave you with a dear piece of advice: do not let the search for perfection cloud your mind. Do not let it consume you to the point of destruction because often perfection lies in the imperfect, or simply in admitting that something is not complete.

What does Pride mean? According to the dictionary, Pride means: "confidence and self-respect as expressed by members of a group, typically one that has been socially marginalized, on the basis of their shared identity, culture, and experience." So be proud of who you are, your accomplishments & your community. Do not let anyone tell you how you should feel, act or express yourself. Be Proudly You. Happy Pride.

Language and art are two very peculiar subjects.   Their intricacies can be woven into the most beautiful of mysteries and nonsensical projects. They don’t always follow a reason or a rhyme, and the intentions behind them are often debated and analysed over years. One such artwork is the nonsensical poem “Jabberwocky” by Lewis Carroll.   The impact of this senseless poem, found in Carroll’s novel Through the Looking-Glass, has made a lasting impact on literature and the English language. Neologisms like “galumphing” and “chortle” have made their way into our everyday language. It goes to show, often works of art may seem inverted and lacking any significant meaning, but in some way, they leave their mark on us.