A sneakpeak into Frida‘s Annual report 2022

A Deep Unearthing – Finding our way back to the core

Over the years, our relationship with FRIDA, the Young Feminist Fund, has grown stronger and more profound. With each annual report, we strive to introduce something new. We have turned to the metaphors of earth and water to help us bring focus to, recollect, remember and weave together the stories that have shaped FRIDA’s work during this time.

Earth and water, as we have seen and experienced, offer us hard lessons as well as soft places to land, to rest, and to heal. Of the many gifts borne of the Earth, perhaps the sharpest, and most generative, is that of fire.

Fire, in its many forms, has always been controversial in our movements. We debate the necessity of its rage, while also invoking its power when we talk of burning down the structure and institutions responsible for our oppression. But the earth is not undecided about fire. The earth does not stow it away in her pocket, a tool to bring out as a last resort.

Like water or air, fire too has its designated place in
the grand scheme.

Our imagery borrowed from the lifecycle of fire, from the initial spark of activism to the blazing inferno of collective action, and finally, to the ashes that fertilize new growth.

The visual storytelling employed in the Annual Report has not only enhanced its aesthetic appeal but also deepened the emotional connection with its readers. By visually interpreting fire as a metaphor for feminist movements, we have created a compelling narrative that underscores the resilience and transformative power of these activists. The feedback from the FRIDA community and external stakeholders has been overwhelmingly positive, highlighting the effectiveness of the visual metaphors in conveying the report’s core messages.

Our collaboration with FRIDA stands as a testament to the impact of thoughtful design in amplifying important social messages. Through our illustrations and design, we hope to have contributed to the ongoing dialogue and support for young feminists around the world. The report has served as a powerful tool for advocacy and awareness, helping to mobilize resources and support for FRIDA’s initiatives.

As the lava of ancient volcanoes has taught us time and again, the lessons of fire can be slow moving, drawn out, and unbearably hot, and still in its wake produce some of the richest and most fertile soil, revealing ancient minerals from deep inside the earth’s crust. Cyrtanthus ventricosus, commonly known as the Fire Lily, produces heads of orange-red flowers on stems that are up to 20cm tall.
The Fire Lily only flowers after wildfires in the dry summer seasons. The lessons brought to us by fire are hard, but we welcome them as they push us to try harder, to bloom brighter and continue to spark feminist fires across the Global South.

The focus as always was on strong and on-point storytelling, We worked on not only highlighting the cyclical nature of social movements but also reinforced the idea that every end brings a new beginning.

The Fire Lily, which blooms after wildfires, served as an additional visual motif, emphasizing resilience and renewal within feminist movements.

“I believe in the sweat of love and in the fire of truth” – Assata Shakur

In our practice, it is vital for us to explore and experiment with unique ideas. We draw inspiration from diverse sources such as poetry, literature, nature, folklore, mythology, and symbolism. We firmly believe that as interconnected beings, our liberation is tied to the liberation of all sentient beings. The politics of our images compel us to envision a world woven with interconnectedness.

This project provided us with a playground to push the boundaries of a single discipline, encouraging us to think and draw in interconnected ways.