A BLOODIED KIND OF HOPE explores darkness as a form of radical dissent, connection and healing. It uses story & poetry centered around love, lust, family and friendship to celebrate emotions—such as anger, sadness, frustration, disappointment, and loneliness—typically shied away from or shamed in polite society, for the universally human qualities they are and bringing them out of the darkness and into the light.
The original installation was on display at Nous Tous in Chinatown, Los Angeles September 6-18, 2019 and was produced by Jeanne Heo. Please get in touch if you’re interested in any of the remaining pieces for purchase or gallery display.
Videos by
Directed + Edited → Samia Zaidi
Cinematography → Teodora Totoiu
Music → Torii Wolf
Bodies Don’t Forget
There are worlds inside of us that only make sense when we remember how bad things used to be. We could go years, decades not remembering, but feeling a part of ourselves, not understanding it, feeling confused and lonely for it. Or we could recall, relive, invite the demons to pull up a chair next to us and press play on the memories of fights in cars so bad you thought the earth would crack open, or the way she left you, they all left you, needing for something but you were always the one doing the giving. Until you stabbed yourself in the stomach with a pair of golden scissors, possessed by whatever demon that day, witchcraft you wish you knew but didn’t, so were afraid of. If only your innocence could save you now. If only she could hear you now. Or then. Could she ever?
The spell is broken now. Jarred and sweaty, but I never forgot the way she left me.
Bodies don’t forget.
©2024 Jillian Adel. All works contained on this page are property of its owner + may not be used or reproduced without consent.