**Into the Sun: Chapter 8**
Months have passed, and the two warriors continue their relentless journey into a wasteland few humans have ever ventured into. They stop at nomadic camps to revive their battered bodies, replenish their food and water supplies, and receive care and healing from empathetic strangers. Here, by the firelight, they share stories—some new, but mostly familiar experiences that everyone has endured. They rest wondering what tomorrow will bring; they fall asleep next to each other, the rider propped up, sitting, using his dear friend, lying down in sternal recumbency, as a pillow for his back.
Today is a new day, and they awaken to a familiar procedure that stirs and shakes their weary bodies for yet another day’s marathon and the kind of kinship required for such hellish endurance. They slip quietly away from the camp out towards the rising sun, recommencing a journey that seems to repeat itself, daily, over and over again…
Onward, under the blazing sun, amidst hurricane winds, sandstorms, and tornadoes, with their heads held high, nobility intact, and their skins leathered and cracked, they march on. Each warrior takes turns leading the way into the wilderness, squinting against the harsh environment as they peer into the eternal nothingness ahead. They endure freezing nights and searing hot days. The camel and its rider press on, day after day, week after week. Finally, after a gruelling stretch, the maddening conditions begin to relent. Gazing into the vast expanse of life and death, they persevere down the path they have chosen… these brave warriors.
Drawing: The process of creating the drawings adds another layer to the story, as the images themselves evolve. A liquid fixative is added to the water. I rely solely on pen ink and my fingers to draw, carefully exploring the variety of marks and washes achievable on the paper’s surface. Somehow, the sensation of being in touch with the materials makes drawing feel authentic. The paper is 300 gsm inkjet paper, which accelerates drying without compromising mark precision. However, spilling water or immersing the drawings is not advisable, as the washes will run and vanish, leaving little trace.
Perhaps this is a reflection on how the fragile and ethereal aspects of the human spirit can be commodified. Drawings can range from precious to crude scribbles and may be irreverent or worth very little. Yet they convey a message of hope—that each day is a new beginning, offering fresh opportunities and the chance for further adventure at any age. Everything in life has value to someone, but ultimately, the keeper of the drawing decides its worth.
Into the Sun Video Shorts Playlist: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLQteKPuE8QuMCmTgR5qOZDk42m5HatHcX&si=RieZN4QudUbyuNIm
Derek Hill Video Shorts YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCEncWmw9aBoL4KFf-96boeA
Work Archive: https://www.derekhill.co.uk/work/
