I take refuge in my art. I’ve sketched and painted ever since I was very young, even turning a closet in the corner of my bedroom into my secret studio. I needed to have something for myself that I created myself. At times I felt guilty because what others wanted for me as a hobby, I wanted as my future. But I’ve overcome those feelings. We live in a time when the world’s problems seem overwhelming, and people don’t seem able to pay attention to their own and feelings. With my art, I give them life, and show that they are important. Being asked to write about my artwork for this exhibition was another exercise in self-discovery. For me, art is a way of expressing things that are sometimes difficult to talk about. Sharing my weaknesses and hopes is my way of empathizing with others who might be experiencing the same emotions.