On Monday night I had the UNBELIEVABLE honour of present Zadie Smith the PEN/Audible Literary Service award. (Never meet your heroes they say.. f**k that! Although that might be because one is reduced to a driveling fraggle like creature upon meeting them 😬🙄) As I said when introducing her... When White Teeth came out I saw for the first time people I could relate to and people I recognized in the landscape of contemporary fiction. This reflection of self and surroundings is crucial in the exploration of our selves and how we relate to the world. I felt witnessed and seen and also an empathic recognition in how the world may relate to me and others like me. I have been in conversation with Zadie’s books and writings ever since. I believe she said she was built by books... her writing has fundamentally contributed to the foundation of my own journey in the world as both an artist and a human and I know I have a lot of company in that respect (understatement!) KUHWEEEEEEEEN! 📷: Beowulf Sheehan