Prescribed Burning
SOLO EXHIBITION BY
Yana Ofrasio
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Prescribed burning refers to the indigenous practice of intentional lighting of smaller, controlled fires, under specific conditions to help replenish forests and avoid extreme wildfires. Since most identify flame and fire with pain and anger, prescribed burning as a practice resonated very well with my journey of healing and dealing with anger as an emotion.
Growing up, most of us are taught not to get angry. For too long, emotions and relationships are treated as soft topics when they are actually one of the hardest things to navigate. Through this exhibition, I share about how I found anger to be one path to positive action, and how a life without anger is a life without boundaries or sense of self.
Through abstract expression, I intend to connect the concept of prescribed burning with the discussion of anger because I believe people are individuals possessing an ecosystem of emotions. Anger is not a negative emotion. Anger is information telling us something that should not be ignored. Given propoer attention, it is a critical catalyst for growth. By engaging in a discourse about anger and the pain that comes with it, it will equip us with emotional tools that will help us use anger to clarify our values and learn from our mistakes.
Undeniably, feelings affect both personal and collective productivity. I am hopeful that if more of us experienced performing an internal intentional ‘burning’ every once in a while, we can avoid situations of uncontrollable rage and instead be more ‘slow to anger’ or reflective of our actions towards ourselves and others.
This exhibit holds space for a healthy discussion about anger.
