Representations of the Process of Witnessing

Seeing then Feeling – Original Art by Jonathan Wu

In my drawing titled “Seeing then Feeling,” I attempt to convey my interpretation of witnessing. The subject of the drawing represents a witness of a tragedy and thus can be applied to any member of the general public that witnessed distant suffering. Looking at the picture, two things stand out: his eyes and his heart. In particular, the eyes become linked to his heart, which conveys how what this witnesses sees (eyes) becomes a moral obligation inside of him (heart). The heart is what powers the rest of the body and is what enables him to act. By “seeing then feeling,” the subject of this drawing undergoes what I believe is the basic process of a witness.

Unity – Original Art by Jonathan Wu

Similarly, “Unity” is an attempt for me to represent my understanding of witnessing into an image. In the drawing, six arms grasp one another, showing a connection among all of them. Yet what stands out is that a single arm is red and bloodied, yet it is still part of this unity. Representing the shooters of Columbine and Virginia Tech, this arm also acts as a piece of the larger picture. The arm that is grasping this red arm, along with the other arms that grasp one another, represent the idea of collective responsibility that results from witnessing.

By transferring accountability from one person (the perpetrator) to everyone in society, we all become invested in a tragedy and thus can feel compelled to act. Doing so allows the tragedy to be viewed not as a result of helpless evil, but as an inspiration for us to change and improve something. As a result, we are able to instill meaning in something that may have seemed meaningless.