Rebirth Introduction

Cover and Theme by Hannah Park

When we first came together to discuss the theme for this year’s edition, we all agreed on straying away from cooler colors such as blue and green. Using warmer colors and obscuring the color of the water, I hoped to show that rebirth can be shown in a variety of worldviews and color palettes, especially in focusing on water being the main symbol of “Rebirth”. The figure is purposefully emerging from the water, looking hopeful towards the sky, ultimately symbolizing the beauty of rebirth. Seeing how to embed the symbolism of water and the purple and orange color scheme allowed me to have more creative freedom when creating a cover that reached the Asian American and general BIPOC community at Brandeis. To me, “Rebirth” symbolized that there is no limit on the individual or time when finding new opportunities for growth. As an Asian American student, my community of passionate, creative, and innovative Asian and Asian Americans constantly inspire me to see how I can be the best version of myself and strengthen the connection with others and my cultural identity. Coming into my third year as the Creative Director for Connections, I feel fortunate that I got to see the Connections Team grow from when they first started to reviewing submissions, and to the launch party itself. Being able to contribute to the team through my art with the cover has been an honor, especially in talking with the team on what they hoped to see in the colors, motion, and symbolism.

Mission Statement

Connections aims to create a multicultural network of BIPOC artists and writers and illuminate their voices. We are committed to fostering a community where Brandeis students feel empowered and can claim their identities proudly. We hope to be a safe space for students of varying identities and experiences to share their stories, because we believe it is our connections that allow us to heal and move forward.