djamilaknopf

Encounter

Added 2019-01-04 12:31:08 +0000 UTC

In my bio it says that “I create illustrations that evoke a sense of wonder and nostalgia” and I feel like it’s especially true for this piece. There’s something so magical about exploring the world when you’re a kid.

I remember loving the snow when I was little. I was running around with this fat onesie that kept me warm and I wasn’t bothered by the cold at all (the cold never bothered me anyway?). But now, when I go out I get annoyed when those mushy watery snowflakes hit my face. Winters are definitely not what they used to be. So I wanted to capture the feeling of what they were like when I was young.

And you know that I love Japan and maybe that all I ever wanted was travel there when I was a kid. So staging that torii gate and the deer makes it even more nostalgic for me. I know that the children’s clothing is not typically Japanese. It’s more Mongolian inspired and creates a somewhat fantastical setting, like an alternate Japan. Abandoned and changed.

And that’s what nostalgia feels like to me: aching to go back to a place that actually never was but that you’re still somehow familiar with.

I hope you like this piece!

Thank you for everything. 💛

Djamila