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I do what I do because my
Pépé took afternoon naps*
*
Most summers growing up, we would visit my grandparents in the country. Pépé kept my brothers, cousins and me busy with fun & formative tasks like woodworking, tractor rides, fishing expeditions, roofing,
picking up branches of felled trees, etc. And every day, after one of Mémé's delicious lunches, Pépé would take
a nap. So we would have a couple of hours to ourselves. On one of those sleepy afternoons, my brother showed
me a manga by Akira Toriyama. It was called Dragonball...
...and it changed my life! The masterful illustrations & storytelling inspired me deeply. Drawing
became my thing. I drew everything and got quite good at it. A bit later, at around 8yo, my aunt bought a drawing I made of a big tree in a lush garden. Stunned, I learned that creative expression
is highly valued (she paid me 10 francs, or ~$1.50!). I felt both proud and empowered. I have loved
drawing ever since - embracing it as a core expressive outlet, as well as a form of self-therapy.
Years later, I got into theater in high school and performed a monologue from the musical, A Chorus Line. It moved the audience to tears. This time – though using a different form of creative expression
– I was stunned to witness the impact of storytelling. That same sense of pride and empowerment
returned, and a powerful truth took hold within me...
...creativity is a gift that needs to be shared for the greater good. These formative experiences, among
others, have compelled me to be a visual creator & storyteller to this day.
And so that's how my Pépé, lover of naps, helped define who I am today. Thanks for reading!
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