Assholescence

Assholescence, is a non-fiction book based on real life experience living with adolescents. It is an illustrated book that depicts the awkwardness, alienation and comic sweetness underlying one’s transformation into adulthood. I document observations of my two sons in images made from food boxes, which is significant given my teen’s insatiable hunger. I turn the TetraPak containers of chicken stock and almond milk into drypoint prints. When cut open, cleaned and laid flat, the surface, called TetraPak, can be drawn into with an etching needle. Each image is handprinted on my printing press. I made an alphabet, assigning a letter to each Assholescent and their absurd behavior. In image and text, I capture my sons’ hilarious responses to simple questions like, ‘How was your day?’ and ‘Can you please clear the table?” I’d like Assholescence to build community around the act of caring, especially caring for adolescents who are a peculiarly challenging lot. My hope is this book provides relief and laughter for caregivers.