Baopu #83: You and Me, Me and You

In a four panel drawing, Bao contemplates finding companionship during covid. In the first panel they shop at the grocery store, in the second they do laundry, in the third they trek through snow, in the fourth an owl looks over them. The drawing is largely black and white of all of these images, with small and bright splashes of color (such as Bao's hair) throughout. This poem weaves between the images: Riding Subway, buying groceries, you and me, me and you, doing laundry, growing flowers, you and me, me and you. Counting birds, watching It now, you and me, me and you, moon is rising, we are asleep. You and me, me and you.

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Yao Xiao

Yao Xiao is a China-born illustrator based in New York City. Yao Xiao creates artwork depicting a poetic visual world where complex concepts and human emotions are examined, amplified, and given physical form. Her work has helped people all over the globe connect at unique moments, from the celebration of the 20 Year Anniversary of the SXSW Interactive Festival, to the grand release of pop singer Katy Perry's single 'Dark Horse.' She has created deeply emotional and beautiful graphics for editorial print publications, pop music record covers, concert posters and book covers. Yao Xiao's serialized comic Baopu currently runs monthly on Autostraddle. It is an original comic exploring the nuances in searching for identities, connections and friendships through the fictional life of a young, queer emigrant. Baopu stands for 'holding simplicity,' a Taoist ideal of wishing to return to a simpler state. Find her on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Etsy or her website.

Yao has written 132 articles for us.

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