Emi Ching

Hi All,

Thank you so much for reading Descent’s fifth issue! It is incredible to think that Descent has been around for over two years now – we have grown immensely since we began, from expanding our executive board each semester to printing our issues to connecting with many more APISA artists – and I am always amazed by the creativity, generosity, and spirit of our community.

Our theme for this semester is Splinters, which was inspired by the idea of a splitting, the shards – of glass and ourselves – that get caught in fingers and hearts. Splinters feel simultaneously embodied and abstracted; they are the little things that are impossible to ignore. Our team sought submissions that found a home in discomfort, and our contributors, staff writers, and designers never shied away from the challenge. We hope you will embrace the sharp edges as you read the issue too.

And yet, while we have focused this semester on the uncomfortable (sometimes in wince-inducing detail), our incredible community has never failed to make space for APISA artists, to provide a place where we can feel continually supported and inspired. I’ve been part of Descent since our first issue was released, and the way our team has developed – the care I see that our members have for their individual crafts and for each other – has been one of the most special things I have ever experienced. Knowing that I am leaving Descent too soon is the splinter in my side – I will miss this community dearly – but I am so proud of the work our team has done, prouder of the unbelievable places I know they will take Descent in the future.

Thank you for supporting Descent Magazine, and please enjoy our fifth issue, Splinters!

With gratitude,

Emi Ching Editor-in-Chief

Jasmine

Aud

HOLE

Echo Tang

TESSELLATION

Sreenidhi Boopathi

/OUR FLOWERS

Jana

Raina

DIDI Tamanna Sood + Devon Lee

WALK WITH ME

Katrina Romero Tran + Isabelle Lim

THE PHOENIX’S GUIDE

TO SELF IMMOLATION

Z Luo + Devon Lee

THE DEAD AND DYING

Megan Dang + Isabelle Lim

IN THIS WORLD

A PLACE FOR YOU HAVE WINGS

Ally Guo + Aud Ma

DRIVEWAY

Paul Liu + Prithika Kulkarni

WHEN DID YOU LAST FEEL

SPLINTERED/A SPLINTER?

Staff Writers + Isabelle Lim

WRITING BY JASMINE KWOK DESIGN BY MICHAELA CHANG