Washingtion, D.C, The DMV

THE DMV

(

2025

)

120 x 120 cm

/

Pen and ink on cotton board

This artwork was created over nine months, informed by three months of on-the-ground exploration. It is the fourth capital city and region featured in the ongoing Purposeful Wandering series.
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Washington, D.C., is part of a close-knit team—its key players being the surrounding towns and cities. Throughout history and into the present, the region sustains the Capital. The DMV—D.C., Maryland, and Virginia—isn’t just a geographic label; it’s a cultural badge, a collective effort shaped by the reach of the Metro, the sprawl of the Beltway, and the shared rhythm of urban and suburban life. These observations guided my exploration; the drawings seek to uncover what binds the DMV together and creates its unshakable sense of place.

I've spent my entire life watching America with awe. This work is a contribution to the capital's story—an occasionally naive, yet honest and personal portrait of one of the world's most influential and vital places.
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CHANGE

The DMV is buzzing with a restless energy for change—a place where democracy oscillates between spectacle and the daily grind. This tension is ingrained in the region's identity. The artwork portrays this through a metaphorical circle that reflects the capital's ongoing cycle of transformation: laws that create ripples across the nation, travelling diplomats, locals facing relentless gentrification, and the enduring resilience of democracy itself.

Everywhere I turned, the theme of change was apparent. I encountered it in chatting with a woman outside REI in NoMa who asked for financial assistance, during a stroll with a local by Sherman Circle, conversing with a lobbyist at an evening gathering, supporting a man outside a liquor store in Congress Heights, and discussions with a former Trump campaigner at a bar in Virginia. I met a dog walker focused on modernising the military and a tech engineer dreaming of community gardens—all of these people shared their visions for change. I felt this energy while watching Congress in session, among the Anacostia organisers, in the daily interactions of law enforcement, and in the signs of alligence that bloom across neighbourhoods.

Intense Discovery

The deep human history moved me in unexpected ways. The ground felt charged with a mix of brilliance and brutality, breakthroughs and buried pain. Every corner seemed to whisper significance.

I walked the iconic diamond-shaped D.C. border, including the old part in Virginia. Marked out by boundary stones, some proudly on display, others require “stone spotting,” hidden in overgrown lots or clinging to the underside of the Anacostia Freeway. This pursuit took me through neighborhoods and land that I may have otherwise overlooked.

For thousands of years, Native Americans thrived across the region—drawings in the artwork honor their people, the original placemakers. The military base, Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling, sits on territory with deep Indigenous significance. It was first inhabited by the Nacotchtank (also known as Anacostan) people. European colonisation in the 17th century displaced the Nacotchtank through disease, conflict, and forced migration.

Lincolnia, Virginia, a neighborhood near Alexandria, was initially established as a community of formerly enslaved people after the Civil War. It became a prominent African American community in Fairfax County for over a century.

Cannons are drawn, signifying the many forts in the DMV and serving as sentinels of the nation’s hard-fought evolution. These cannons are firing music and peace at one of the many events now held at Fort Dupont Park.

I first encountered a street shrine in Trinidad, NE, D.C. Soon after, I noticed more appearing on my neighborhood walks. These shrines are created by friends and family to honor the victims of murder and violent crime. They convey something that headlines often overlook: this corner mattered, and this life was loved. Curious, I went online to learn more and discovered Lloyd Wolf, who has been photographing these tragic sites for decades. I had the opportunity to accompany him briefly while he worked. This heartfelt experience, along with the shrines I witnessed, is reflected in my art.

Land of Legends

Numerous places, roads, bridges, monuments, and buildings are named after influential figures—local heroes—showcasing a deeply American tradition of honoring legacy through public spaces. Often, their homes are preserved to keep their stories alive. This practice of memorializing transforms the landscape into a remarkable open-air history lesson, connecting visitors and residents with the nation’s past.

Frederick Douglass was the leading figure of African-American civil rights in the 19th Century. The Frederick Douglass National Historic Site preserves his last residence
and offers incredible views of the city skyline.

The Francis Scott Key Bridge, often called Key Bridge, has been crossing the Potomac River since 1923 and honors the local lawyer who wrote the national anthem, "The Star-Spangled Banner."

The Hughes Memorial Tower soars in honour of the poet Langston Hughes. It now serves as the radio antenna for the DC police force and features the ichthys, or Jesus fish, in its design.

Beyond the Mall

I walked hundreds of miles exploring neighbourhoods and following trails. With each block passed, new stories unfolded. A strong sense of community thrives among local businesses, hidden gardens, churches, schools, and homes.

Iconic landmarks, along with relaxed public parks, stunning architecture, vibrant nightlife, Michelin-starred restaurants, and mumbo sauce, contribute to a unique tapestry of energy and activity.

Lincoln Park, located on Capitol Hill, was originally intended to be the reference point for measuring all distances in North America, serving as a zero milepost. Today, it features statues of Abraham Lincoln and Mary McLeod Bethune and is a popular spot for dogs and their owners to stretch their legs.

An extensive network of maintained walking and cycling trails connects communities, facilitating both swift commuting and lush recreation.

In Deanwood, Suburban Gardens was the first amusement park in D.C. and welcomed African Americans, who were excluded from Glen Echo Amusement Park in Maryland. The legendary Marvin Gaye was born and raised in the neighbourhood. His TV appearance on Soul Train is fondly remembered here.

Goose Island, in the Potomac River, comes and goes with the tide, but here we permanently remember Goose, one of my heroes and top gun.

Village Vibes

The DMV feels like a constellation of villages, with each neighbourhood, city, and town having its unique local rhythms, rituals and institutions.

SILVER SPRING, MD

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Alexandra, VA

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Bethesda, MD

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Anacostia, D.C.

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TAKOMA PARK, MD

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LANGLEY, VA

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I want to express my gratitude to everyone who supported me in this journey. Thank you to all the individuals I met during my walks who shared stories, advice, and kindness. I am especially grateful to the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library for providing this comfy chair and for patiently answering my endless questions, as well as to the Historical Marker Database for aiding my research. Thanks to the workers at the cement plant who helped me locate that boundary stone and to the staff at The Library of Congress, who rescued me from a maze of underground corridors and organised my membership ID. So many people contributed to making this project possible, and I am forever grateful to you all.

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Wandering to the next page

THE DMV

CHANGE

Intense Discovery

Land of Legends

Beyond the Mall

Village Vibes

SILVER SPRING, MD

Alexandra, VA

Bethesda, MD

Anacostia, D.C.

TAKOMA PARK, MD

LANGLEY, VA