"Protectors of Memory" is a series delving into the pivotal memories that have shaped the person I've become today. Each memory resides behind a door safeguarded by characters I've crafted specifically for this purpose. In my mind's eye, I envision an array of doors, each guarded by distinct and formidable warriors, preserving a treasury of cherished memories.
200 Bradhurst is an apartment complex where my family lived during my childhood in Harlem, NYC. The time spent there, though brief, felt longer than entire decades that followed. That period carried a vibe I haven’t felt since, one that now feels unreachable, existing only through memory.
Like the other paintings in this series, this work depicts a memory that I cherish deeply. It represents the beginning of life for my brother; the edge of his crib appears painted beside the bed. This moment also marks the birth of my lifelong love of anime, reflected through the two action figures painted on the bed that I owned at the time. The joy I experienced playing consoles such as the Nintendo 64 and Game Boy Color remains beyond words and the consoles can be seen on the bed as well.
Set in the late 1990s to early 2000s, this memory also helped me recall moments like watching Teletubbies with my younger brother & sister. The purple toy on the bed references one of the characters and belonged to my sister. This period stands apart from any other in my life. As a child, I was able to recognize and appreciate joy far more freely than I can now as an adult. This painting serves as an homage to that time period.