JESSIE ZHAI

Paired With: Jason M. Coker

Jason M. Coker

Jason Coker and Eric Coker were twin brothers from New Jersey, both victims of Pam Am 103 103. When Jason sat on seat 43 A of the flight, he was a junior at Newhouse, the same as me. If he were alive today, he would be one year younger than my father. Jason and Eric were pranksters together, their presence brought everyone around them joy and playfulness. The artwork is based on a picture of Jason and Eric sitting together on a couch, showing off their tattoos. To represent their playfulness, I illustrated them in comic book style, using halftones and simplistic lines. While drawing this, I thought about my dad, whom I barely even talk to anymore. I thought about the postcards Jason wrote to his friends when he was in London, how he said, “I’ll see you in a few months.”