Leaves
122cm H × 152cm W
Mixed media on canvas
Swarovski crystals, ceramic paint, epoxy & 24 karat gold leaf
Curator’s Note:
Leaves introduces a subtle yet undeniable presence into any space it inhabits. It does not demand attention with noise, but rather commands it through a quiet, resonant beauty. As light moves across the room—particularly the flicker of candlelight—the 24 karat gold background gleams in shifting shades of warmth, creating an atmosphere of serene luxury. The large-scale heart-shaped leaves, rendered in a deep, peaceful green, anchor the composition with a sense of stability and calm. Details such as the flower with its delicate carpel and stamen, and the wandering bees add a layer of warmth to the experience. It is a work that offers the viewer a sanctuary, omitting the chaos of the world to provide a strong, grounding sense of peace.
The Narrative:
Leaves is a profound meditation on healing, resilience, and the possibility of cultivation.
Emerging from a luminous background of 24 karat gold leaf, the composition features the lush, heart-shaped foliage of the Hosta plant. This work was born from a period of deep introspection following a personal crisis—the artist’s brother suffering a sudden cardiac arrest. In the aftermath, she became consumed by the biological reality of the heart: unlike other muscles that can regenerate, heart tissue, once dead, is lost forever. The damage is irreversible.
This fragility sparked a compelling inquiry: How can we stop this loss? If science struggles to regenerate the heart—to grow new organelles or replace what is gone—could art offer a different kind of cultivation?
The painting became her manifestation of this possibility. If we cannot yet farm human hearts in a lab, she would cultivate them on canvas. She discovered the Hosta, a plant composed of heart-shaped leaves, offering sustenance from root to tip. In painting them, she created a garden of hearts that would never fail, never stop beating, and never die.
The artwork asks a quiet but powerful question: What if hearts could be cultivated?
Each leaf is rendered with meditative precision, a repetitive, calming process that mirrors the artist's own journey of processing trauma. The Hosta here is not just a botanical study; it is a symbol of emotional and biological abundance. The green foliage, rich and peaceful, is elevated by the intricate application of ceramic paint and Swarovski crystals, transforming organic forms into something permanent and precious. Set against the gold leaf—a symbol of the divine and the eternal—the humble Hosta becomes a sacred object, a testament to the life-affirming power of nature and the enduring strength of the human will to repair what is broken.