I am done!

“I am done” and by that, I don’t mean to sound morbid or show off that my “to-do list” is no longer a list, but to mark the moment of my very first Art Residency being completed.

I applied for the AA2A Art Residency at Anglia Ruskin University in September 2024 (you can enlighten yourself by checking their website or social media accounts: https://aa2a.org/about-aa2a/ ), and I was one of the five artists selected for the 2024/2025 academic year.

I found myself in a perfect situation—the studios and facilities that I was able to use were five minutes cycle from my work. I knew most of the staff there, and I was really keen to meet and work alongside other artists. I dedicated every Thursday afternoon to art making. 

That was it. 

There were no more plans, fantastic ideas or visions. 

I bought a bag of clay and started making “things”. First I aimed at making familiar objects such as bowls, cups and plates. I enjoyed that phase but once I learnt that there would be an exhibition at the end of our residency reflecting on our (the AA2A artists) experience, a panic kicked in. Looking at my want-to-be-a-dinner-set-but-is-more-or-less-a-collection-of-wonky-ceramic-rejects I thought I should perhaps push myself a bit more, step up, pull myself together, do SOMETHING…ANYTHING.

But what?

I remained in the ceramic studio and kept making “things” - not so familiar anymore, just random organic shapes glazed in blue colour and very smooth to the touch.  

It was an ordinary Friday afternoon on the last February day when I visited a short film screening and a conversation with filmmaker and activist Priscila Tapajowara. In her short film titled The River, Priscila introduced the Tapajó people, one of the 13 peoples of the lower Tapajos River region, in the Brazilian Amazon. She showed footage from the rainforest, explaining the role of the indigenous people as the guardians of the local habitat. 

She talked about their deep knowledge of the environment, the way they respect the River Tapajos, but also their daily struggles fighting the greediness of our society. I was so humbled and inspired to see this young indigenous woman who dedicated her life to sharing awareness about the importance of protecting the Amazon, the so-called lungs of the Earth. 

I suddenly knew that my random ceramic organic shapes represented water and I started to work towards an installation that would include a collection of tactile paintings and ceramics.

I contacted Priscila and agreed to use some of her photos as inspiration for my paintings. Part of the installation will be turned into a limited number of unique pieces of artwork that will subsequently be available for purchase with part of the proceeds going to If Not Us Then Who, a US-registered charity that supports a global awareness campaign highlighting the role indigenous and local peoples play in protecting our planet.

See you at the exhibition in September! I willl keep you posted.