In 2020 I was invited to create three illustrations for a collection of essential oils produced by Chius Choose in Taiwan. I was also tasked with writing a short story to accompany each image, which you can find below:
Yoko is a woman whose sensual desires are so large that no person could ever satisfy her. The love of others was unfulfilling and all too fleeting. Unchecked urges made her resentful of society, so she renounced it, and fled into the wilderness. Amidst the tranquility of nature she let her desires flow outward, and found that the all-encompassing presence of nature embraced her passions in their totality. Yoko succumbed to nature and lived in eternal ecstasy, never again needing a human’s touch.
The Floating Cat is a special constellation that you can only see when your eyes are at their most relaxed. Every muscle in your body must be un-tensed, and even then you can only catch it in the peripheral vision of a well rested eye. Its story tells of a cat that was desperate for the warmth of the sun. Every day it leapt towards the sun until its legs ached and its feet were raw and blistered. It didn't rest until its legs were strong enough to leap into the stars. Now the cat floats through space, its thick fur soaking up the warmth of the stars. Its legs are relaxed, and feet are soft, because it has no more use for them.
The Forgotten Foot Spa is a sacred place for overworked and under-loved feet. If you run too many marathons, or wear uncomfortable shoes, your feet might decide to abandon your body and seek refuge at the Forgotten Foot Spa. There they can rest and recover from all of their mistreatments. The feet gather under the stars and share stories of itchy socks and endless walks. So remember to always thank your feet, and reward them for their hard work, just in case they walk away.
