In Sow Fall’s The Beggar’s Strike, Fall expresses how beggars are a integral part of society. Much like a doctor, or a teacher, or a maid, begging is also an occupation that helps bring home money in order to feed the mouths of hungry children. The story also emphasizes the juxtaposition of dishonesty between the beggars and the donors, and how many donors have selfish motives when they donate. Rather than helping the impoverished because they wish an easier life upon them, individuals donate to wish a life of ease upon themselves. If I just give them money, maybe I can go about my day without being bothered again.

However, in my drawing, I try to pose a slightly different perspective. Rather than showing how beggars are a step on the ladder of society, I illustrate the relationship between beggars and wanderers. Wanderers are just people, like you and me. Wanderers are people who dare to dream and aspire to succeed.They may seem insignificant in the story of life, but their stories intertwine with the stories of other wanderers in almost unfathomable ways.

Looking objectively at my graphite sketch, one may just see a pair of hands and a ballet dancer. But despite the simplicity of the drawing, the meaning is intended to be much deeper. The hands are open, as if in prayer, asking for alms, forgiveness, prayer, hope… Anything. Unlike the stark, bold, edgy figurine of the wandering dancer, the hands of the man are aged, experienced, and full of life. On the contrary, the figurine of the wanderer is much smaller, showing how even the smallest of people can make the biggest of differences in someone’s life. The open hands of the man and the wanderer seem to be vastly separated, with only ribbons to connect them. The ribbons show how pervasively the paths of people like us and people in need intertwine, and how we often overlook the struggles of others to look over our own wants and desires. Rather than helping others in need, we often look the other way and close our eyes and hearts to reality and humanity. Instead, we selfishly pursue our own dreams, our own thoughts, our own successes. Instead, we pursue ourselves.