Sare Hoste

Dearest Anna

(2022)

My master's project this year was the start of my animation film: ‘Dearest Anna’. My personal story about friendship, love and grief.                                            'When all the light has vanished you will have to find yourself again. And you will have to do that alone.'

Almost three years ago, I drew a little story/book about losing somebody important. Halfway through the drawing process, my best friend Anna died of cancer. The whole booklet and story unintentionally became ours. 'Skeletje' and 'Spookje' became Anna and Sare, and the drawings took on immense value. Further drawing became the comfort and safe place I needed then, and it still is now.

'Dearest Anna' is a sequel to that first little story, and takes place a lot later in time. When everyone has forgotten that you still miss someone so much. You feel lost in this world, in this environment and in yourself. So you flee to your dreams. Here you feel closer to Anna than anywhere else. But dreams remain dreams. And over time you lose yourself in trying to escape reality. It is time to dare to grieve.

It's time not to shy away from your grief but to let it be there. For you, and for Anna.

Bio

Sare Hoste (2000, Ghent, Belgium) is an illustrator. She graduated from LUCA School of Arts Ghent, with bachelor's and master's degrees in Free Visual Arts - Illustration. She is currently studying for a second (educational) master's degree at Sint-Lucas Ghent.