Indebted

Throughout our lives, we are given opportunities great and small. Whether it be physical possessions that are bestowed on us, or through acts of labor or love, sacrifices have been made for our benefit by those around us. Growing up among the distractions of a modern society, it can sometimes be difficult to take notice of the gifts we receive daily. To me, thinking about my personal possessions and how I attained them is a very important part of my self-comprehension. My family and friends make obvious contributions to my health and happiness, but recently I’ve begun to acknowledge the fact that millions of other beings have silently played a part in my life, and they never even had the choice.

As I contemplated this fact over the past few months, it seemed only logical that I had to somehow show my appreciation not only for those closest to me, but for all sentient beings. The dining table is the traditional meeting ground for providing a bounty for your family, for showing reverence to company, and for celebrating the changing seasons. It is at this table that I hold the assembly of my seen and the unseen benefactors of my life. The images may seem cheerless, but as the animal loses its life, other lives are nourished. Whole civilizations have been built up around these resources, and they will continue to use them for generations to come. These portraits are my tribute to those who have endured so much for my existence, either by choice or by chance.