I created this drawing while participating in protests for Palestinian liberation at Indiana University. I recreated Francisco Goya's Saturn Devouring His Son, which reflects how many of us felt during the encampment. The original painting depicts an overwhelming force consuming something powerless, and I saw a similar dynamic in the relationship between the institution and its students. As individuals, it was easy to feel small, isolated, and vulnerable in the face of a massive university administration. The image became a metaphor for that feeling of being consumed by a system much larger than oneself.

 

    At the same time, the drawing is about collective strength. While one person may feel powerless, standing together gave us the ability to make our voices heard. Our presence was met with a significant response, including police in riot gear clearing the encampment and armed security positioned at the protest, including a sniper aiming down on unarmed students. These events reinforced the central theme of the work: the pressure to feel powerless and insignificant. By recalling the image of Saturn and his son, the piece serves as a reminder that solidarity is the only way to resist being consumed by forces that seek to diminish individual voices. The drawing was exhibited May 7th, 2024 online alongside works by other artists as part of a group exhibition on newart.city.