2025 - acrylic on canvas - 91 × 152 cm
PUZZLING STORIES is meant as a visual analogy for the transformational cycle triggered by personal trauma. It showcases the depth and breadth of the human spirit’s remarkable perseverance and celebrates its resilience, adaptability and capacity for self-renewal.
Each work begins with a finished painting on an unstretched canvas. The artist then effectively destroys her original work by painstakingly cutting it into strips, an act she invariably finds both physically and emotionally challenging. This integral stage in the creative process reenacts the full effect of trauma, from its physiological effect to its impact on dismantling identities, disrupting narratives, and destroying connections. In time, she reconstructs a second artwork from the fragments of the first one. The original order and shape are altered through a mix of intended and unpredictable circumstances. What emerges is a new composition, one that is altogether transformed yet recognisable.Each newly recomposed painting reflects a singular personal story, its uniqueness conveyed through the choice of colour, distinct shape, and/or form of weave. What started as a long rectangular painting could morph into an oval, a square triptych, or a set of nine small circles. Some strips are secured tightly; others are intentionally left loose. No two works are alike though they all share a transformative journey.
The reconstructed paintings reveal more dynamic and complex identities forged from experiencing adversity. They are enigmatic, visually intriguing, and uniquely compelling not despite the challenging transformation process but precisely because of it. The series hopes to capture viewers’ imagination by inviting them to puzzle together the fragmented pieces of the original storylines and recognise them as inspiring stories of survival, fortitude resilience and renewal.
2025 - acrylic on canvas - 91 × 152 cm
2020 - acrylic on canvas - 122cm x 106cm (oval)
The PUZZLING STORIES series is a metaphor for self-renewal where each painting is a visual exploration of human spirit’s remarkable capacity for survival, resilience and adaptability.
Each piece begins as a seemingly finished painting on an unstretched canvas. The artist then dismantles her original work by painstakingly cutting it into strips an act symbolizing the shattering impact of trauma where once-complete identities or narratives are pulled apart into seemingly disconnected pieces. Through an arduous process, she eventually reconstructs a second artwork from the fragments of the first one. The original order and shape are invariably altered through a mix of intended and unpredictable circumstances. What emerges is inevitably a new composition, a storyline that is altogether transformed yet recognisable. Each idiosyncratic and unique. An initial rectangular painting could morph into anything from a square triptych to a set of nine small circles. In all cases, the reconstruction process includes obscuring part of the original storyline behind overlapping strips of painting as if to hide parts of one’s traumatic past from others, and oneself.
The series captures viewers’ imagination and invites them to puzzle together the fragmented pieces searching for storylines of what may lay beneath. In fact, each work is a testament to the transformative power of self-renewal and the art of adaptability. They reveal a more dynamic and complex identity forged from experiencing hardship. They are enigmatic, visually intriguing, and uniquely compelling not despite the challenging transformation process but precisely because of it.
2013 - acrylic on canvas - 40" x 64" - 102 x 163 cm
2007 - acrylic on canvas - 55" x 55" - 140 x 140 cm
2013 - acrylic on canvas - two 37" x 37" panels - two 95 x 95 cm panels
2007 - acrylic on canvas - three 55” x 33” or 140 x 84 cm panels
2005 - acrylic on canvas - 47" x 71" - 120 x 180 cm
2008 - acrylic on canvas - three 20” x 20” or 50,5 x 50,5 cm panels
2013 - acrylic on canvas - three 50" x 32" or 127 x 81cm panels
2008 - acrylic on canvas - nine 30cm diameter panels
Can be displayed as shown, in a square formation, or as a column or row of nine circles
2012 - acrylic on canvas - 55" x 55" - 137 x 137 cm
2013 - acrylic on canvas - 20” x 20” - 50,5 x 50,5 cm
2007 - acrylic on canvas - 54" x 54" - 137 x 137 cm
2007 - acrylic on canvas - 36” x 72” - 61 x 213cm
2005 - acrylic on canvas - 36" x 64" - 91 x 163 cm
2005 - acrylic on canvas - 36" x 88" - 91 x 223 cm
2013 - acrylic on canvas - 40" x 40" - 102 x 102cm