Day 16: David Heo

Day 16 : David Heo, visual Artist


 
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Honestly, the past couple of months have been rough for me, mentally & emotionally. I was constantly truing to stay somewhat positive despite everything, but dude, that was tough… it takes a lot of energy to stay resilient. Once we were told to stay at home, I have had the time to reflect and reshape how I understand things - whether they are things I am familiar or unfamiliar with. Thankfully, I find solace in making art. If it wasn’t for my practice, I’m sure I’d be in really bad shape. 

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DAVID HEO

: davidheo.com
: @davheo


My day to day has not changed much. I’ve been making art and working from home for the past couple of years, so I don’t mind the lack of separation between a live/work space. Overtime though, a few things have affected me and my creativity. The extravert in me was dying a little bit every day…not being able to go out and socialize started to slowly kill the earnest that naturally comes with making, and every project or show I had lined up got postponed. But galleries and businesses have slowly found a new rhythm & there has been creative restructuring for things I was supposed to work on. 

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The stay-at-home order has forced me to buckle down on the “stuff” I never got around to creating. I have designed and released my first book, then a tote bag, and now — unexpectedly— decided to make my own set of face masks for people. I still get a lot of inquiries which is really nice … I am forever grateful that there’s still people out there that continue to vibe with my work and want to continue supporting me. 

I’m grateful for how much relief restaurants, bars and public spaces have provided for me. I’m sorry I took y’all for granted. My biggest hope? I’d love to see people continue taking this seriously and to stay aware. I get it - I’m stir crazy, too - but let’s all try to prevent a second wave. If we collectively remain doing our part, Chicago will be able to heal and restructure…I’m looking forward to that. 


 
Dave Dahl