Quarantine Self-Care Series
Tomorrow is Another Chance: Portrait of Mel
The Quarantine Self-Care Series is a multimedia project that highlights
the ways people of color are navigating the nuances of self-care, survival, and new normals as a result of COVID-19 via interview, installation, photos, and video.
Tomorrow is Another Chance: Portrait of Mel, Tablecloth, acrylic, plastic, embroidery floss, assorted papers, masking tape, 41in X38in, 2020
MEL TAING is a Cambodian-American photographer & experimental filmmaker based in Boston.
When asked How do you care for yourself?, she responded:
“The first thing that comes to mind is my mental health. I care for myself by participating in talk therapy every week. I've been going to a therapist consistently for three years. It's changed my life. Now, I see my therapist virtually through zoom each week! Talking with her, especially in these anxious and sad times, is crucial. I count therapy at the top of my self care list, so I'll do whatever I can to keep this going in my life.
The second way I care for myself is through food. I believe that food is love. It's a love language that has been passed down to me through my Cambodian heritage. My entire family shows their love through cooking and eating together. I cherish every meal and will earnestly plan my next meal while I'm already eating. My partner and I fell in love through food and cooking together, so it really is a bonding experience with him when we step into the kitchen. Now that we're both recently unemployed, we have a lot of time on our hands to cook epic meals.
The last way I care for myself is allowing myself to have shitty days. I know there's always work to be done, grants to apply to, photos to edit, jobs to search for, youtube workout videos to check out... but when I wake up and the fog is in my mind and that anxious heavy weight is on my chest... I know I can't wish it away with productivity. I am slowly learning that my productivity is NOT equal to my worth. The jobs I had, the gigs I used to book... those things don't equal my worth as a person right now. And I'm working really hard to wrap my head around that and allow myself to just rest. To sit on the couch, feel a little shitty, put Frank Ocean on, and let the day go by. Tomorrow is always another chance. And if tomorrow is also a little shitty, I can accept that with as much grace as I can give. We're dealing with a global pandemic, here!”
“Despite the challenges that the pandemic continues to present I believe that self-care is still something to celebrate. In terms of rounding up materials for Mel’s portrait, quarantine has led to me upcycle old tablecloth and tissue paper often associated with celebratory communal gatherings. I also chose the yellow fourth of a circle as the base of the piece with the sentiment of having a fraction of sunshine that helps you keep all of the pieces of life together despite chaos. I’m hoping that all of the media generated through this project will continue to provide a small moment of rest, joy, or at the very least distraction from the hard times in front of us.”
Screenshots of the IG Live Interview and virtual exhibition of the artwork.