For this project, we had to create two portraits using our body outlines to portray what makes us feel safe and what gives us discomfort. 

First thing that came to mind was my beautiful country Rwanda, located in the Central of Africa. My country is commonly referred to as “The Land of a Thousand Hills” because of how hilly the landscape is. Growing up, I was always told that I am very lucky to be able to say that I have a country and I am proud to be Rwandan. This resonated with me over time as I learned about my country’s history. There are so many things that we take for granted and yet are so important. I have always felt safer in Rwanda than anywhere else I have been. Another thing that I thought about that makes me feel safe is  People. My family has always come first regardless but all my friends also always make me feel safe because I can always count on them. 

In tandem with the previous artwork, we had to work on something that makes us uncomfortable. I noticed how much I am always stuck in my head and never take a leap to try new things. In the artwork, I used the red color to indicate how the past is and how it has made me who I am to some extent. The roots indicate my connection to the past, and the drops indicate the year that my country went through a dark period.   

Mind map when brainstorming what to create for my portrait