beginning by the end

in a upside down World.

“Be safe. Be kind. Be curious.”

This is how I end my letters every time. It’s my mantra and what I sincerely wish was more a part of everyone’s life. And yet, as I sit to write this week’s letter, in which I wanted to enthusiastically talk about my new commission list – which opens tomorrow –, or about the upcoming Angoulême Festival in France and why it holds a special place in my heart and I daydream about when I can go back there, or about the upcoming shooting of the forth (and final) season of the Umbrella Academy Netflix series, all I can think about is the tragic surreal events of yesterday at my country’s capital.

In case you missed it.

By the time I saw some messages of disbelief and rage in one of my whatsapp message groups, this outrage was well on its way, and I spent several hours in front of the computer trying to gather more information, watch what was happening and try (possibly failing) to understand how something that bizarre, that grotesque and that tragic could be happening – and, for many hours, being allowed by the security police to happen – and I couldn’t bring myself to use my social media channels yesterday to talk about what at that point seemed less importante or even meaningless: conventions, commissions and travels.

As I watched yesterday unfold, I didn’t find in the events any of what I hold dear and wish for others:

No safety.

No kindness.

No curiosity.

Today, as the country starts to recover, and we hope some justice can start to be done to right all these wrongs, I have to breathe deeply and remind myself the importance of my mantra, the importance of nurturing your capacity to care about each other, your ability to learn, and your willingness to spread love.

Even through dark times, it’s essencial to hope, and to dream, and to create.

Art is the materialization of our inner selves, it’s when we bare our soul to the world, it’s when we share our dreams and ask others to dream along, and to dream bigger.

Art is about beauty, and about never stopping to ask questions.

When terrorists invade our buildings and damage, steal of completely vandalize pieces of art, they remind us humans can destroy.

We must not let them succeed in making us forget that, on the contrary, humans can create.

I really hope that, when my commission list opens tomorrow (starting at 2PM EST at this link), people ask for stuff that celebrates art, comics, love and hope.

Be safe. Be kind. Be curious.
Pa-ZOW!

Fábio Moon
Moon Base, São Paulo
January 9th, 2023