Work in Progress: A Blooming Return

After graduating, I didn’t realise how much I would miss having a studio space. Life presented me with its challenges, and for some time, my focus was on survival. My practice took a temporary back seat.
During this period, I attempted to create on my tiny bedroom floor, but without the proper tools or environment, my progress was stagnant. Creativity began to feel like a luxury I could not afford.

This was the longest break I have taken from my practice. Perhaps it was necessary. I took a step back to reflect and allow my life to unfold.
Gradually, the storm clouds passed and the sky was clear. It was spring again. Nature greeted the world with fresh blossoms. I observed the life cycle around me and watched the flowers that had died and turned to dust in previous seasons grow back bigger and brighter. The world felt vibrant once again, and with that, I rediscovered my purpose. I felt like the dormant flowers that eventually bloomed lushly. I felt reborn.

During that time, I walked frequently, drawing inspiration from my surroundings. I became fascinated by the symbolic meaning of flowers and felt immersed by losing myself in their significance. I admired their shapes, patterns and textures. I found symbolism in the cycle of nature. Their symbolic language, yonic forms, and their deep spiritual resonance.

On one occasion, when I visited the V&A, I came across Dante Gabriel Rossetti’s ‘The Day dream’. I stood captivated for what felt like thirty minutes, admiring the work of the master. This was my introduction to the Pre-Raphaelite movement. I was deeply moved by the romanticism within the paintings. The intensely enigmatic imagery and allegorical compositions pulled me in completely. I began researching the techniques used by the Pre - Raphaelites, the depth of their symbolism, and their depiction of flora that was used as a secret language. Each painting spoke to me in a different way.

Life felt romantic at that moment. I was falling in love with living again. I began collecting dried flowers, pressing and storing them. During my walks I would encounter flowers, abandoned on foot paths, thrown away or trampled over. I couldn't help but view them as a metaphor. The symbol lies in the beauty of life that has had to endure hardship, like the delicate flower whose soul is crushed beneath someone else's feet, and trampled mercilessly with betrayal.

I started documenting my findings through photographs. This process eventually inspired me to explore the fragile and fleeting qualities of life in my work. Over time, I compiled an archive of concepts and ideas surrounding flora. Creativity flowed through me once more, and life felt blissful.
During this period, my environment also changed. I was able to set up a small studio space in my flat, which completely fueled my creativity.

My current work in progress is a culmination of the feelings that have been building inside me, and the suppressed desire to create. Through this painting, I aim to evoke the sense of rebirth and the act of shaping the image keeps spring alive in my heart, even as the seasons shift.


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With the dimmed lights of seasonal change,
Winter's cool breath fills the air.
The azaleas I paint bloom still on my canvas,
Keeping spring’s spirits alive in my heart.