We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Jaćhai DeJesus a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Jaćhai, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today What’s been the most meaningful project you’ve worked on?

Thus far I’ve been diligently wrapping up my first book, ‘1998’, it’s an anthology of journal entries and stream-of-consciousness writings that I’ve written from 2017 up until January of this year, where the book begins. Based on my observations and experiences of being black, queer, Florida-born-and-raised, and always having a natural sense of self, I took my time developing this book, because it’s a benchmark for me within my personal creative journey and my inner healing homework.

Turned 25, graduated college, am still single, and moved to NYC, so many transitions and realizations just within 2023, that have happened in the midst of me preparing for the release of ‘1998’. That I’m actively being aware of how I’m going to introduce the outside world to this project because I’ve sat with it for so long, I feel that it’s time to solidify my first major personal project that reflects who I am and where I want to be. While also leaving room for expansion within this project to build upon itself into other ventures and spaces that allow my work to flourish.

1998, developed naturally, in that, it’s built around my personal journal entries from when I left Florida to go to college in 2017, and that transition of feeling like I knew it all but coming to the reality that I didn’t. And through many realizations, trials, errors, corrections, and conversations that happened and some that I wished would’ve happened, the book begin. 2023, was when I finally sat and pieced all the entries together and started laying out the anthology, bringing it into more of a realized form and something that could potentially be tangible to others.

I preface 1998, with a PSA that “I’m not a writer, not a poet, not a philosopher or anything of the sort” because everything within the book is based on experiences I’ve had and observations I’ve noted from situations around me and within me. There’s no degree or scientific research that I propose to leverage the entries. I kept them raw and real and translated my handwritten work to a digital text because my handwriting isn’t the best but I still wanted to show the juxtaposition of me writing in my journal on a particular day and time, compared to the more formal, edited digital text that brothers each of the journal entry scans.

Jaćhai, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

For those getting to know me for the first time, my work and my creative experiences are not linear and probably never will be because I’m interested in the cross-connectivity of art. The fact that I can go from making a painting to curating a gallery show to coordinating with DJ’s to make the playlist, then working with set designers to activate the space, sourcing venues, promotional tactics, and the works! There are so many opportunities to build collectively and learn from the perspectives of others to gain a piece of knowledge that could help me better understand my next move, and that’s just a small planet within a much larger universe of creativity that I’m forever exploring.

In the realm of creation, I am a passionate architect of my own existence, meticulously crafting what I wish to see take shape in this world. Through my artistry, I embark on a journey to navigate the labyrinth of my emotions, using various mediums like paint, drawings, sculptures, and designs as my compass.

Each creation bears a unique soul, distinct from the others, though they may share subtle connections. They serve as profound reflections of my being, capturing the essence of where I stand at that very moment in time. For some, religion beckons them towards the church’s sanctity, but for me, it is the sanctuary of art that draws me in, where I commune with my innermost self.

Art is my sanctuary, transcending the realms of mere therapy or commercial value. It resonates with a sacredness that permeates every stroke, every molding of clay, and every stroke of the pen. Such a profound connection means I am discerning in sharing this intimate dance with others. I guard the access to my creative process with vigilance, for not everyone is deserving of the privilege.

“Not everything is for everybody,” a mantra that echoes through the chambers of my life and rings true in the broader tapestry of existence. With a careful eye, I select those worthy of witnessing the unveiled depths of my artistic voyage. In doing so, I honor the sacredness of my craft and preserve the sanctity of my artistic journey.

Have any books or other resources had a big impact on you?

“Dr. Maya Angelou with George Plimpton | 92Y/The Paris Review Interview Series

This conversation between George Plimpton and Maya Angelou, part of a collaboration between 92Y’s Unterberg Poetry Center and The Paris Review, was recorded live at 92Y on January 11, 1988. ”

— This interview between Dr. Angelou and George Plimpton, is one of many audio recordings that I keep tucked away for when I need motivation, encouragement, insight, or just back crowd noise while I’m creating. The first time I listened to this interview in its entirety, was in 2019 while doing my quarterly rearrangement of my room, a trait I inherited from my grandmother, this audio came on my YouTube stream, and by the time it ended, I was ugly crying next to my bookshelf, because it felt as though Dr. Angelou’s responses to Mr. Plimptons questions were targeted at me in the midst of my own personal chaos at the time. It saved me from making a lot of emotionally charged mistakes and instead, look within myself for peace and patience.

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative?

When it comes to social media and the exposure/utilization of the internet, there’s a choice to not build an audience versus an inability to build an audience. I could post every little detail of my ideation process and give all the juicy behind-the-scenes (bts) content and commentary to build up the reveal of my work to gain notoriety and fandom for what I’m working on, but that to me isn’t genuine to my creative process.

While there are many successful examples of artists and creatives making amazing content from their bts material, my social media usage rarely involves me showing the process of my work, and much more of the work itself once it’s ready. My ideating process is personal and at times draws a lot of energy from me because I enjoy digging deep and making connections within the work to then branch out to other areas. So I don’t want to be bothered with also trying to piece together a Reel or a TikTok to show the world, that I’m working.

Granted sneak peeks are fun and definitely happen when I feel comfortable with them, but I don’t want to create an unwanted expectation, of having to deliver something because my likes might go down, or I could be shadowbanned for whatever reason. When engaging with me and my artwork, via social media, approach with a meaningful intention to engage and converse about the who, what, when, where, why, and how. I’m always open to discussing my work IRL or URL.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://jachai.art/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jac.hai/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jachaidejesus/

Image Credits
1. 1998 – “Nineteen Ninety Eight” – Book Cover Draft 2. Test Shoot with Photographer, Debmalya Choudhuri (@debchoudhuri) 3. Photoshoot with Photographer, Laura Beckerdite (@lalalauramae_) 4. Journal Entry from ‘1998’ – “010123” 5. “White Washed” | Spray Paint & Acrylic on Wood | 3ft x 2.5ft 6. Photoshoot with Photographer, Lexi Webster (@alexwebsterphoto) 7. BTS from “del corazon” by JONA VARK (@thejonavark) 8. Photoshoot with Photographer, Ben “Bubba” (@filthpope)