Heaven Had a Friend

Heaven Had a Friend (2020-23)

Noteworthy for its inclusion in the Moscow Contemporary Timescapes 2023 and The Sky Above Exhibition 2024.

Heaven Had a Friend stands as a profound piece that emerged from the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, a testament to the transformative power of art in the face of challenging times. In the onset of 2020, as Seattle entered a full lockdown and I embarked on the journey of grad school, I found solace and continuity in my artistic practice despite the confinement.

To navigate the limitations of staying indoors, I embarked on a daily ritual—documenting the clouds with my phone. What began as a simple act evolved into a therapeutic routine, offering a daily connection with the world outside my window. Little did I know that this practice would soon take on a deeper, more poignant meaning.

On February 4th, 2021, the fabric of my world shifted as I said goodbye to my best friend, Paul, after a courageous battle with cancer. The constraints of the pandemic prevented the usual avenues for healing and closure, prompting me to find solace in the skies above. What started as a mere act of capturing the skyline transformed into a ritual of skygazing, a contemplative observation of clouds that seemed to mirror the ebbs and flows of our emotions.

Heaven Had a Friend is more than a series of photographs; it's a heartfelt dedication to the profound lesson I gleaned from Paul—to love the simple things in life. Each image within this collection encapsulates a moment of introspection, a reminder of the beauty found in the ordinary.

As an ongoing project from 2020 to the present, Heaven Had a Friend serves as a living tribute to the enduring spirit of friendship and the resilience found in embracing life's simplest joys. Through this series, I invite others to join me in the journey of finding solace and beauty amidst the clouds, echoing the timeless wisdom imparted by a dear friend.

Maybe it was him sending a message from wherever he is.