My cousin died of addiction on Feb. 12, 2016. His father also died of addiction on June 15, 1988. My father is a recovered addict. I transformed an abandoned chair that wanted to be acknowledged into a bench. A chair where only one person could sit on is now a bench where two people can sit and support each other.
The Acknowledged Bench is an act of solidarity, where individuals meet suffering in a field without judgement, but rather with love, compassion, and support. This bench is dedicated to all individuals who lost their lives because of addiction, all of those fighting for their lives, and all of us who support our loved ones with unconditional love.
Camilo is a queer latino artist from Bogotá, Colombia, who feels both responsible and passionate about making art that gives visibility to the oppressed. He intends to awaken moral resistance from vivid images of physical resistance. You can view more of his work at www.zencraftbycamilo.com.