The Cash Machine

Type: Children's Book / Graphite on paper + digital Year: 2019

At the end of 2018, I watched a BBC One Christmas short film. The two-minute short follows the story of a teenager and his busy mother, who are struggling to find time to connect. But suddenly, in a moment of Christmas magic, time stops around them, allowing for a memorable afternoon together. The message in the film is simple: when you do manage to get time with loved ones, make the most of it. It addresses the pressures of modern family life and emphasizes Christmas as a time for togetherness. After I watched the video, I thought about the reasons. We have been educating for generations that the best love is the company. But why is companionship a problem for modern family parents?

I was born out of a desire to build a sincere conversation between parents and kids concerning their emotions. I started out with one of the most emblematic, and often, underestimated ones: fear(sense of security). This feeling is inherent to all humans and due to the fact it is usually downplayed or not fully understood, I end up letting it take control over us. This story is an incredible opportunity to kick off this conversation in a subtle way, taking us to a more profound reflection on our personal fears and how they might get us stuck. The brutal twist shows us the long-term impact of neglectful parents. It also addresses the pressures of modern family life and emphasizes the best thing you could give to your kids is togetherness.