Original acrylic on canvas. 91x121cm.
World Peace/Inner Peace/Tree of Life series:
This a very personal journey from my heart. Being a part-time artist for 15 years and a full-time mural artist for the past five, I always paint from my heart. What you see on canvas usually is the result of what I am feeling, and not thinking, which is a kind of bliss. A kind of meditation and therapy. I need that escapism; the peace and silence from a world that is becoming more and more noisy and unsettled.
Becoming a mother, gave me a feeling of joy I have never experienced before. But along with it, came the immense responsibility of being a parent and bringing up children in a very critical point in the history of our planets health. So over the past recent years, I felt huge helplessness and sadness of the situation; of the destruction of the natural world, main concerns being deforestation and the rise of fossil fuels.
Instead of thriving, our precious ecosystems are under huge strain and are suffering. To witness deforestation and coral bleaching with my own eyes was the wake up call I needed. Instead of continuing with my normal job as a graphic designer, I wanted to use my art as my voice to create change. I painted abstract paintings of oceans, coral reefs and rainforests. I exhibited at cafes and galleries and sold paintings to help charities such as Rainforest Alliance and WWF. This did make me feel a little better because I thought I was helping. But now I am not sure. I feel the issue lies far deeper and I have so many more questions I am asking myself… Is this really just the top soil of what is really going down deeper in the core. How do we really protect the planet from ecological destruction, political conflicts and wars. What is really at the roots of the tree of life, in the heart of Mother Earth? What is she really is asking from us? I think it is this…
She is asking us to start at home, with ourselves. Find our own inner harmony, peace and self love, before we can ask for it in the outside world. We are living in imbalance and the only way to find equilibrium and equality is through healing ourselves. Healing the sacred feminine and masculine within us all. We owe it to ourselves, the planet and to the rest of humanity to do this because we are all connected. Our actions; the conscious and unconscious choices we make, affect every single thing in our lives. We need to delve deeper and we need to wake up. Before we tackle the outer daily battles in the world, we need to face our own inner battles.
Let’s love ourselves. Let’s feel, cry, laugh, judge less, forgive so much more, especially ourselves, and let go of control. Don’t hide, be afraid of, or suppress emotions. Otherwise the mind and body will stop working because we didn’t honour them.
Treat our body as a sacred temple. Cleanse. Heal. Nourish. Rest. Rise. Give ourselves care and protection as we would our own child. Mother Earth needs us to tend to our inner child. Live truthfully, be free, be authentic and throw away the masks and the facade. Let’s stop people-pleasing to the detriment of our own needs and health.
We were born with free will. Listen to the heart. Always choose yourself first. Find true connections that help us rather than distract us. Believe in the dream. Flow with life. Be joyful. Be grateful.
Every day is an amazing gift and an opportunity to grow and learn, especially when I make mistakes like everyone else. I do the inner work daily so I can be the best version of myself to help and inspire my children. To be aware and not ignore the signs around me. To make conscious decisions every day. To try to understand and to see through the layers. I know there is no such thing as a black or white situation. I know every challenging moment is an opportunity to grow and learn some more. I know that behind the most difficult and even unlovable person, there is a soul needing love, healing and compassion. And I have learned the most and witnessed incredible things when I have been at rock bottom. Those lessons have been blessings because it made me stronger and the person you see today.
I am in love with this rainbow of life with all the colours, shades and emotions. I find joy in the smallest and simplest of things. And even in sadness, I find beauty. I count my blessings and am always grateful. I also get mad and am very silly sometimes but hey, I am a Human Being living the human experience. So Be yourself. Accept yourself. Forgive yourself. Love yourself. Then you can love everyone else and this planet better. Farrah.
