Take Care of Your Self: The Art and Cultures of Care and Liberation

by Sundus Abdul Hadi

Take care of yourself. How many times a week do we hear or say these words? If we all took the time to care for ourselves, how much stronger will we be? More importantly how much stronger will our communities be? In Take Care of Your Self, Iraqi artist and curator Sundus Abdul Hadi turns a critical and inventive eye on the notion of self-care, rejecting the idea that self-care means buying stuff and recasting it as a collective practice rooted in the liberation struggles of the oppressed. Throughout, Abdul Hadi explores the role of art in fostering healing for those affected by racism, war, and displacement, weaving in the artwork of twenty-seven artists of color from diverse backgrounds to identify the points where these struggles intersect. In centering the voices of those often relegated to the margins of the art world and emphasizing the imperative to create safe spaces for artists of color to explore their complicated reactions to oppression, Abdul Hadi casts self-care as a political act rooted in the impulse toward self-determination, empowerment, and healing that animates the work of artists of color across the world.

Genres: Nonfiction, Self Help, Social Justice, Disability

176 pages, Paperback

Published December 1, 2020

About the author

Sundus Abdul Hadi is an artist and writer. Born to Iraqi parents, she was raised and educated in Tiohtià:ke/Montréal. Sundus’ transmedia work is a sensitive reflection on trauma, struggle, and care. She is the author/illustrator of “Shams”, a children’s book about trauma, transformation and healing. Her book titled “Take Care of Your Self: The Art and Cultures of Care and Liberation” (Common Notions, Fall 2020) is about care, curation and community. She is the cofounder of We Are The Medium, an artist collective and culture point, and the founder of Maktaba Bookshop in Montreal.

Reviews

[are we there yet · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked it. I never really read a book by an Iraqi Muslim female artist before, and I liked being surprised by a perspective that never occurred to me before. Common Nations is my new favorite publisher now.

This book goes great with Care Work by Leah Lakshmi Piepzna-Samarasinha, I think.

[Weekend Reader_ · Rating 5 out of 5]

This should be required for folks who interested in community care while doing social activism. I highlighted pages not paragraphs pages.

[Shayna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every word was placed in there with intention and care and it was evident while reading how passionate Sundas is. The themes were relevant and introspective and I was overwhelmed with emotion during many sections. I thoroughly enjoyed the material and though this book was not written with me in mind, but I was able to glean so much perspective on who it was written for.

[Лариса · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wish this book was required reading for my visual cultures courses. I'm going to start recommending it to all of my friends and colleagues that are interested in art and/or care.

[Avery · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this book and did not realize that it actually comes out tomorrow(!). I bought a copy of it from a local bookseller in my city.

I am not much for doing reviews. I feel that this is the kind of book that will reward you with repeat readings of it in conjunction with the creation of your own art.

[Suha]

Got this book after meeting Sundus and learning about her work 'Shams'. This was a read into what it took to curate a gallery of work, which explored themes of collective trauma, and self-care as a radical tool for communities to heal after suffering injustices.
Wish I got the chance to visit the gallery itself, it would have made the read even more enjoyable. I learnt alot about different stories and found myself in Google rabbit holes reading about some of the references in the book. All in all, a good look into what it takes to curate a space for art and the intentionality behind it. I could feel the care and intentionality with which Sundus writes and found the her to be very self-aware. Excited to follow her path as an artist and a curator!

[anna · Rating 5 out of 5]

An important read for any artist/art historian. As someone with a deep resentment for the commodification of art as capital and the museum/auction house structure as an asset to capitalism rather than community, this book was so refreshing. It offers a healthy reminder of how art can (and should) bring people together and aid loving resistance to these systems and institutions that encroach upon our collective creativity. If you have ever discussed forming an artist collective with your friends or creating a grassroots project to bring art into broader communities outside the “art world,” this is going to be the book that gets you to start taking action.

[Zeina J. · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is highly inspirational. I’ve never read anything like it this far. It’s inspiring to see a local artist reach so many people from deeply rooted communities and show all interconnected struggles in the light of care. The book is beautiful and so are the words of the author. I’ve been lucky to meet her and feel the effect of her words at Maktaba Bookshop in Montreal. From serving me tea to reading this book, I am grateful for Sundus. This book will definitely impact my own view on academia, art, and self care.

[Sami · Rating 5 out of 5]

Must buy. For somebody who has always preferred audiobooks, this was actually a very easy read. It was so thought-provoking that I read through most of it in one sitting. I have never done that in my life. Highlights issues that are either not talked about or often sidelined.

[Jasmine · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favorite reads of 2021. I was inspired as someone deeply devoted to both liberation and care work. Hadi does an amazing job laying out how decolonization, liberation, care and art are all intrinsically connected. Must have

[Darcy Bea · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful and powerful exploration of how art and intentionally created safer spaces can facilitate self care, community and healing for groups with experience marginalisation, colonialism and oppression.

[Case · Rating 2 out of 5]

Took me forever to read this mostly because I was sooo misled by the title lol! This book is for an artist / about art. I feel like maybe it was halfway through the book before the author started breaking down the definition of self care, which just wasn't what I was expecting!

[Natasha Sniatowsky · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautifully crafted and written book!

[Caeli Benson · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5

[⚔️nic⚔️ · Rating 5 out of 5]

idgfa about narcy but his wife wrote a GOOD book

[Erin]

Important.

[Shelin · Rating 5 out of 5]

The title says it all. This book give me a new perspective about healing process. Its not only through clinical therapy but also about connection to other people and how art could become a strong medium to heal both individual and communal.