Journey
The tree in Braga
How a tree on the way through a new city became Petals of Love.
2019
Paradise Shoman moved to Braga, in the north of Portugal, in 2019. Among the first things the city gave her was a tree.
“In 2019, newly arrived in Portugal, I was mesmerized by a tree whose leaves exuded an ethereal beauty. Each time I passed by, the stunning leaves captivated my heart, drawing me closer to their magical allure. Inspired by their splendor, I carefully collected the leaves and petals, allowing their natural charm to guide my creativity.”
The leaves and petals she gathered went into the painting itself, alongside acrylic and watercolour on canvas. The result is Petals of Love: mostly green, with browns, beiges and touches of blue and red, and a raised, layered surface where the natural material sits.
Arriving somewhere new and finding something to hold on to runs through other work from her first years in Braga, too. Doce Hut shows a small hut, not fully built, with a door and a window; Hope's Threshold has a door in the wood that can actually be opened.
