I was chosen as the successful artist after a two-round selection process that was open to artists locally and across Alberta. My work aims to “recognize and honour the relationships between all aspects of Nature.” In her proposal submission, I created a triptych, a set of three paintings that together depict one cohesive image incorporating visual elements of the boreal forest and a stylized sun. I created a fourth painting in collaboration with local students which combines the same boreal forest motif with mixed media butterflies. This piece visually pairs with the main triptych and is a community collaboration project.
Concept
The overall concept of these
artworks is inspired by the Japanese “Shinrin-yoko” or Forest Therapy, which is
a gentle path to wellness by simply being in the forest.
Shinrin-yoku is a term that
means “taking in the forest atmosphere” or “Forest Bathing”. It was developed
in Japan in the 1980’s and has become a cornerstone of preventative health care
and healing in Japanese medicine. (shinrin-yoku.org)
When I lived in Ft. McMurray
and discovered the many trails in the area, I found that entering the forest
and walking on the trails was a very relaxing and rejuvenating experience for
me, which led me to spending more time on the trails and further exploring the
concept of “Forest Bathing” in my life and artwork.
The idea of Forest Bathing is to go for
a slow, mindful walk to contemplate nature with all the senses. This allows us to
open our senses, and to absorb what is surrounding us. Connecting with nature, we
consciously see the leaves trembling in the breeze, hear the branches crunching
underfoot, feel the sunlight warming our faces, and listen to the sounds of
birds flying overhead.
The title of the triptych is Boreal Forest Stories. This piece
represents my peaceful experience of Forest Bathing and depicts the Sun rising through
the forest. The design
features a stylized sun in the center panel, animatedly illuminating the trees
and foliage of the Boreal Forest on either side. It is a celebration of life
and light.
Boreal Forest Stories 4'x18'
The Community Collaboration piece is entitled Butterfly Effects and depicts a colourful butterfly in the forest, highlighting the beauty, lightness, and playfulness of one small creature within the larger forest environment.
“The butterfly effect is the concept that
small causes can have large effects." (wikipedia.com)
