Hope is a powerful word. It’s a powerful feeling. It’s a powerful belief. Have you ever really thought about what hope truly means? What it feels like? Thaïs Helène Downman says this, “In hope we strive for an ultimate preponderance of what we believe to be good” (Downman). Wouldn’t that be a beautiful way to live, always looking for the good?

A temporary exhibit in the Victoria and Albert Museum entitled, Hope, reflects how hope is presented in humanity- even in the middle of a chaotic world. Showcasing photographic collections from several photographers, each section reveals a different aspect of hope. There were three places, specifically, in the exhibit where I found myself in awe of the emotion being portrayed. I noticed goose bumps forming on my arms as I felt the love, I felt the inspiration, I felt the hope.

This photo by Gideon Mendel, titled Damage: A Testament of Faded Memory displays the scenes of an active protest against apartheid in South Africa. This protest against racism happened in the 1980s when segregation was a raging issue, in South Africa especially. Mendel was part of this generation. When he took his original negatives and distorted them, he found himself faced with the hope of his fading memories.

I found that phrase mesmerizing, “the hope of fading memories”. Oftentimes it is easy to forget that our memories have the power to give us hope, to remind us of the joy and happiness and fulfillment we have experienced in our lives, to serve as proof of how far we have come.

This collection by Janelle Lynch called, Another Way of Looking at Love, showcases the power of nature and how all life forms are connected. I fell in love with these photos because not only do I believe nature is miraculous, but I also believe nature is a perfect picture of hope and renewal. We are all connected to nature just like we are all connected to each other.

The relationships we form with those around us, with the world, give us hope in humanity. How might life be
different if our relationships with the environment, with other people, with ourselves ceased to exist? Thinking about the impact that would have in our “hope capacity” makes me truly thankful for the way we are all interconnected.

 

As I conclude my semester abroad in London, I leave with an abundance of hope- hope for the future, hope for love, hope for joy, hope for myself, hope for growth. Living in a new city, embracing a new culture, finding a new rhythm, discovering a new me, experiencing a new love fueled a fire in me to never stop looking for the good. To live in a never-ending hope-filled adventure may seem crazy. Is clinging to hope naive? I don’t think so. There is a difference between losing sight of reality and realizing the positivity radiating around you. Ultimately, I think that is what hope is. London has taught me this. So, look for the good,look for positivity, look for love, look for happiness, look for adventure, look for laughter, and look for hope. It’s amazing when you do.

*all photos were taken by me at the Hope collection at the Victoria and Albert Museum or around London*

Downman, Thaïs Helène. “Hope and Hopelessness: Theory and Reality.” Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine, The Royal Society of Medicine, Aug. 2008, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2500241/.

Lynch, Janelle. Another Way of Looking at Love. London.

Mendel, Gideon. Damage: A Testament of Faded Memory. London.

“Victoria and Albert Museum: Hope Collection.” England, London, 14 Nov. 2019.