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A love letter to the the crown that serves and the women who shine May 31, 2021

As an artist, I am constantly inspired by the world around me and the people, places and circumstances that I come across. I am always curious, questioning and connecting the natural, spiritual and physical worlds to create meaningful works of art. It was almost inevitable, therefore, that I should find creative inspiration from COVID-19 and how the pandemic has affected our society. 

I have always believed that the universe needs balance to be in harmony – balance between humans and our ecosystem, and between man and woman. All of Mother Earth’s creations are unique, equal and worthy. 

The pandemic revealed to me that our society is out of balance in many ways. But rather than mope in despair, I found hope in the good news stories that were coming out during the global lockdown. Stories of animals returning to empty cities and skies clearing of pollution- (reminding me very much of the myth of the Phoenix, which inspired this large painting). 

I was captivated by this Forbes article, “What do countries with the best coronavirus responses have in common? Women leaders” . In the article, Angela Merkel of Germany, Tsai Ing-wen of Taiwan, Jacinda Ardern of New Zealand, Katrín Jakobsdóttir of Iceland, Sanna Marin of Finland, Erna Solberg of Norway and Mette Frederiksen of Denmark have been acknowledged as the women leaders from around the globe who responded very quickly and tactfully to cope with the COVID-19 pandemic in their states.

These seven women leaders not only showed great determination and decisiveness, but they also provided their people with care and love. They demonstrated that with a combination of brains, governance, and empathy, women can also play their role in shaping this world into a better and safer place, just like men.

I started thinking of all the various qualities that women have and what they bring to our families, workplaces and societies. This led to a new series of woman figure paintings showcasing all of our strengths and vulnerabilities – the Urban Queen was born.

The Urban Queen represents not just global women leaders, but all the leaders in our own lives,  even those living in anonymity. My art celebrates all the women who juggle raising kids with running the household, working hard at their jobs while managing their health and looking after everyone around them. I wanted to bring these tireless, selfless women into the spotlight and show the strength and courage that every single one of them brings to their daily life.

The beautiful thing about women is that we are adaptable and capable of tapping into our full range of emotions and qualities. Sometimes, fragility, tenderness and affection can be as powerful and effective as any ‘masculine’ trait. Our feminine softness is not a weakness to be hidden, but a source of strength that can actually make a big difference in the world.

I want my art to show all the inner strength and power a woman has, clad in her soft, gentle and compassionate emotions.

The crown is the perfect accessory for the Urban Queen. It has long been a symbol of ultimate power, but it also signifies someone who serves her people with dedication, diplomacy and quiet determination. 

My artworks not only portray all the different hues of feminism, but I also want to empower others to see the strengths within themselves. I love to use different techniques and painting media to draw viewers closer to my paintings. Works painted on plexi-glass like “I rock my crown” do just by bringing the viewer’s self-reflection into the artwork itself. 

Other artworks, like ‘Good Vibes Only’ encourage calm and tranquility – offering a much needed respite from the stresses of the world outside. I hope my paintings allow viewers a moment of quiet contemplation, helping them realise that they are worthy themselves and that they, too, can be Queens in their own lives.

 

 

Ultimately, the Urban Queen is my love letter to the universe and all the women in it. We are an indestructible force of nature. We are a critical part of society, capable of bringing so much love, strength, intelligence, comfort and courage to those around us. 

In our own unique ways, we are all Queens and should wear our crowns with pride!