Inquiry

In the curatorial essay for This Unfathomable Weight, Farah Yusuf writes: “As we return ‘back to normal,’ the effects of collective trauma, inflicted by the pandemic and cascade of socio-political upheavals will linger across society for a long time. How can we heal from widespread experiences of shock, anxiety, loss, and social upheaval?” Healing—conceived as an ongoing process rather than a milestone—can take place in as many ways as there are experiences from which to heal. Across artworks, essays, and reflections, contributors expound on healing in its many forms: art-making, art therapy, land-based learning and therapy, collective grieving, mourning rituals, and ceremony. Where to turn for unexpected sources of comfort? How can experiences of healing be collectivized?