ANGELA THOULESS  

MARCELLE MANSOUR 

BEATA DENCIKOWSKA  

DARIUSZ DENCIKOWSKI  

HANNE M. BIEDILÆ

RITA MERHEB 

MIGUEL E 

JOANNE HUXFORD 

NADEZHDA ALEINIKOVA, STOP WAR

Gøneja  , Spomenik - A breath-taking war memorial concrete structure over some snowy Bosnian mountains.

Jael Roznicki, Facing the Facts - Is from my quarantine series, May of 2020. Originally named “life Lessons” it is truly a rendition of a reflective time in my life and in history for most people affected by the “new normal”. I enjoyed taking my time to build out the layers and somewhat flowing nature of this one. As with all my pieces they are inspired by emotion more than tangible things or events. This was a reset in my personal life and a new vitality toward my art and focus on full creation of a body of work. As a relatively new artists, building out a cohesive body of work was a primary goal of mine and 2020 allowed me the space and mental freedom to create like I have not been able to do. 

Jael Roznicki, Act of Courage - Is from my Basement series, January 2021, gallery wrapped original oil on canvas. This is one of my smaller sizes, I typically paint in larger formate and more rectangular formate. With this one, I deviated a bit from my typical and wanted to capture the warmth of a worn armchair. I had reunited with this old thing for the winter months in front of the fire place. Oddly enough a fireplace that has been in my house for 4 years and I never used. But last winter I made a wood fire every morning for my morning coffee. That comfort and sunken warm feeling from this old spot and the fire smell just made me feel nostalgic about the space, which this piece came from. 

Joanne Huxford, TUMBLE - I did this work at the beginning of the covid winter. When it felt like the world was tumbling down all was falling apart. People around the world were feeling isolated frightened etc. It is a series with a raven flight of the eternal cycle of life and death. The raven brings upon the feeling of color light flight freedom from the covid world, they go well together. The thought on the color red in backdrop the fever pitch of fear uncertainty at the start of covid. The black lines at the bottom are the symbols of death and loss. The egg tumbling down gives the feeling of vulnerability the world seemed ready to crack open. I added the pink ethereal tones with the light blues for the feeling of the gods awakening to help the world out.

Ana Vollwesen, Night at Home, well spent - With this patricular piece my Focus was on staying Home and the Meaning in todays Day and Age. Staying at Home can be percieved as a Burden, but it also can be viewed as an Opportunity- to cultivate something, to change anything or to just be. The different Marks in this Painting could be Parts of Devices you can find in a Home: like a Stove, a Window, a Shower or a Microwave – all productive Things. I wanted to display all the Options one might have when staying at Home. The Question, since I am very fond of asking Questions all the Time, that came up while creating this Artwork was: `What does well spent Time even mean?’

Mihaela Cismigiu, Into the abyss - How many times have you felt in an overwhelming abyss? 

“Into the abyss” is the representation of our toughts that manage to save us in the darkest moments of our life.Reprezents the moment when you realize that,no matter how dark the situation you are in seems,in the end you will find again that light that guide you outside of it.It is the proof that beauty can be born out of nothing and that hope can make light into darkness.How else could you appreciate that moment full of light without knowing the darkness of the abyss?

Rita Merheb, Statements from the Middle East - Calligraphy is an artform, an artist may create a whole art piece out of only letters, it can look stunning, and it can deliver various messages, without writing a single word. This aspect of calligraphy has always inspired me, both in my teaching and in my personal art works. I always strive to show the importance of the letter as a visual element, and not only as a textual message. This was the driving force that guided me in creating this collection. A set of art pieces that bridges the gap between Middle Eastern traditions, values and way-of-life on one side, and the current contemporary art movements on the other. 

Cicci Grensner, Flowers to my love - Cecilia “Cicci” Grensner mostly paint with acrylcolors. But starting to painting with watercolors in the beginning of this year. This is actually one of her first watercolorspainting with flowers and the original is sold to England. 

My thought when I painted this - be like a flower, they just bloom, they dont compare themselfs with other, they just ARE. 

Rebecca L Keller, Priscilla in Red - I start with an image: a cup, a place, a face, some images more abstract than others. There is something of import in them though not always easily articulated. The philosopher Emil Kant said that how we perceive objects or phenomena are not the things in themselves but what he called ‘noumena.’ They exist independently. I seek that moment of discovery when the intrinsic nature of a thing breaks through. I see this painting as a kind of snapshot taken as a veil is pulled aside to provide a glimpse of the thing itself.  

Cicci Grensner, Heaven on Earth - Beginner with watercolor but it is so much fun. I love to see where the color reaches the paper and forms. It’s just like nature itselfs. And so happy many people already like my watercolor art. 

T. Klumpp, aquilifer, degenerative 9 #02 and un eco - These images are an exploration of the themes of time, dissolution, creation, and our place between the three. My digital art contains elements of traditional drawing, AI assisted textures, and image manipulation. They reference archetypes from our collective past, as well as address ideas about our possible future directions. I create each image not in the hope that it tells a specific story as much as it provokes one and creates questions for the viewer that will lead them to author their own accounts of what may be transpiring within the environments I have exhibited.

T. Klumpp, aquilifer, degenerative 9 #02 and un eco - These images are an exploration of the themes of time, dissolution, creation, and our place between the three. My digital art contains elements of traditional drawing, AI assisted textures, and image manipulation. They reference archetypes from our collective past, as well as address ideas about our possible future directions. I create each image not in the hope that it tells a specific story as much as it provokes one and creates questions for the viewer that will lead them to author their own accounts of what may be transpiring within the environments I have exhibited.

T. Klumpp, aquilifer, degenerative 9 #02 and un eco - These images are an exploration of the themes of time, dissolution, creation, and our place between the three. My digital art contains elements of traditional drawing, AI assisted textures, and image manipulation. They reference archetypes from our collective past, as well as address ideas about our possible future directions. I create each image not in the hope that it tells a specific story as much as it provokes one and creates questions for the viewer that will lead them to author their own accounts of what may be transpiring within the environments I have exhibited.

Nicole Duffell, John Coltrane - I started very early in life as a working illustrator in my teens... but I also played the saxophone. I didn’t pick up a pencil for more than thirty years of jazz studies, band gigging, touring, & then running jazz clubs in SE Asia. The strict lockdowns in Singapore brought me back to my roots in art and I started teaching myself digital design in 2021. So far poster design has helped me survive through this Covid era and I will keep improving my skills to continue this exciting new journey. Staying true to what I know, my artwork for this submission is based on some great jazz artists; Nat King Cole, Barry Harris (who we sadly lost to Covid recently), Johnny Griffin (my personal Hero) & John Coltrane.

Nicole Duffell, John Coltrane - I started very early in life as a working illustrator in my teens... but I also played the saxophone. I didn’t pick up a pencil for more than thirty years of jazz studies, band gigging, touring, & then running jazz clubs in SE Asia. The strict lockdowns in Singapore brought me back to my roots in art and I started teaching myself digital design in 2021. So far poster design has helped me survive through this Covid era and I will keep improving my skills to continue this exciting new journey. Staying true to what I know, my artwork for this submission is based on some great jazz artists; Nat King Cole, Barry Harris (who we sadly lost to Covid recently), Johnny Griffin (my personal Hero) & John Coltrane.

Nicole Duffell, John Coltrane - I started very early in life as a working illustrator in my teens... but I also played the saxophone. I didn’t pick up a pencil for more than thirty years of jazz studies, band gigging, touring, & then running jazz clubs in SE Asia. The strict lockdowns in Singapore brought me back to my roots in art and I started teaching myself digital design in 2021. So far poster design has helped me survive through this Covid era and I will keep improving my skills to continue this exciting new journey. Staying true to what I know, my artwork for this submission is based on some great jazz artists; Nat King Cole, Barry Harris (who we sadly lost to Covid recently), Johnny Griffin (my personal Hero) & John Coltrane.

Lena Silva, Crooked Beauty - series. No.1 - Crooked Beauty series. An emotional intelligence awakening. Female’s lives, detrimental stereotypical views are dictated, pressed upon individually or as a group. A society saturated with unrealistic standards of beauty supported by a plethora of spotlight individuals and various media channels. External beauty utilised as a sexual manipulative tool, a tantalising fruit, as per society unrealistic expectations. The crooked side of it dangerously leads females to question their worth, place and roles in the society. Often, connecting painful fissures and fault lines as a direct consequence of unrealistic society pressures. STOP! You are your own and Beautiful! Listen to your inner voice, love thyself.

Felicita Giannikos, Contradiction, 40 x 40cm - Melancholy, sadness, disappointment and feelings of disgust towards people’s ugly ignorance contradict the happy colours of kindness and good - which you know will always be there but you sometimes struggle to feel them. 

Kohlben Vodden, Red Sebastian - “Red Sebastian” is a visual story of the secret identity that exists in the dissonance between personal identity and public image. This hidden identity is revealed through oil paint on canvas and employs psychological insights from Neuroaesthetics, an experimental field of psychology exploring how the brain processes beauty in humans and art, with abstract expressionist influences, while recalling the techniques of colour field and hard-edge geometric painting to create a truly original and evocative abstract portrait. 

Dina Albarqi, Euphoria - Euphoria is that feeling of excitement and happiness all in one, she is lost in her own world of dreams and imagination. This feeling keeps her going with the passion to reach her desired destination. The abstract realism artwork catches your eye instantly wherever it is displayed. As a person and as an artist, I always try to create art that can reach that deep hidden horizons of  the human soul . You can look at this woman and think of many multiple thoughts.. this the beauty of art .. it’s in the eye of the beholder not only the artist. You can feel it too with simple things such as laughter, listening to music ,or dancing .. whatever makes you happy .. can induce a state of euphoria 

Kesar Valera, Persona - As an artist, I like to explore meaningful concepts that would resonate with the viewers. This oil painting represents the multiple personalities we carry within ourselves, as expressed by the wide colour scheme, which make up our complex identities. The mask creates an alternate reality for individuals, who may unintentionally or willingly put on the façade to hide from others. With time, becoming oblivious of this façade detaches us from our true values, opinions, culture and identity, creating psychological space separating the true nature of our soul and our observed persona.

Lena Silva, Crooked Beauty - series. No.5 - Crooked Beauty series. An emotional intelligence awakening. Female’s lives, detrimental stereotypical views are dictated, pressed upon individually or as a group. A society saturated with unrealistic standards of beauty supported by a plethora of spotlight individuals and various media channels. External beauty utilised as a sexual manipulative tool, a tantalising fruit, as per society unrealistic expectations. The crooked side of it dangerously leads females to question their worth, place and roles in the society. Often, connecting painful fissures and fault lines as a direct consequence of unrealistic society pressures. STOP! You are your own and Beautiful! Listen to your inner voice, love thyself.

Lisa Argentieri, Serenity - The woman in this painting lifts up her face to the heavens; basking in the warmth of freedom and love. Grateful for all of her blessings and serene with peace. Looking skyward she is embracing the future with confidence and joy. 

Jamal Masarwa, The hope despite the pain - There is hope, even when your brain tells you there is’nt. This artwork created during Covid19 lockdown and it explains the reality of how much we needed hope despite the pain that we are all felt back then and still feeling it today. and that was my only way to express myself about hope and the freedom that we all needed.

Gurm, Hope - Hope is the shining light that tells us to keep going despite the tough times. Hope is the brink of a new beautiful discovery during the changing of seasons and the shifting of tides. Hope is the flowers blooming from a seed, and the sun coming out of hiding in the clouds. Hope is finding the end of the endless maze. Hope is becoming the strongest version of yourself that can handle anything. Hope is looking back on cherished memories, living the best day each minute, and chasing those dreams. Hope is smiling come what may. Hope is that peaceful, liberating, loving, shining, feeling. A friend that is always there, in the brightest and darkest weather. Hope. 

Luiza Milewicz , PEAKS AND VALLEYS - Peaks and Valleys lamp utilises styrofoam by-product placed in a linear configured pattern and illuminated from behind a translucent perspex sheet. It is at once sculptural and functional and belongs at the nexus between art and product design. It is part of a body of work that engages in an ongoing exploration of light, form and pattern, using shapes, colours, and compositions to evoke biological, botanical, geological, architectural and mechanical structures. In this work, the triangular step-like formation brings to mind an aerial photograph of snow topped mountains, or a rocky cascading waterfall, or perhaps a modern architectural building facade, referencing the visible regularities of form found in nature and culture. 

Steve Jensen - My parents are from Norway. My father was a fisherman. My grandfather was a fisherman. Upon the death of both of my parents, I made a boat for their ashes and buried them at sea like a contemporary Viking funeral. I also made a boat for my best friend and my former partner. These deaths were extremely tragic. What I am attempting to do is to take something personally painful and turn it into something beautiful. The ice is melting, our ship is sinking is a metaphor. We, as humans, have abused our environment. If I had inherited my father or grandfathers fishing boat, it would have been easier to make a living as an artist rather than a fisherman, a sad reflection on our marine environment. 

Steve Jensen - My parents are from Norway. My father was a fisherman. My grandfather was a fisherman. Upon the death of both of my parents, I made a boat for their ashes and buried them at sea like a contemporary Viking funeral. I also made a boat for my best friend and my former partner. These deaths were extremely tragic. What I am attempting to do is to take something personally painful and turn it into something beautiful. The ice is melting, our ship is sinking is a metaphor. We, as humans, have abused our environment. If I had inherited my father or grandfathers fishing boat, it would have been easier to make a living as an artist rather than a fisherman, a sad reflection on our marine environment. 

Steve Jensen - My parents are from Norway. My father was a fisherman. My grandfather was a fisherman. Upon the death of both of my parents, I made a boat for their ashes and buried them at sea like a contemporary Viking funeral. I also made a boat for my best friend and my former partner. These deaths were extremely tragic. What I am attempting to do is to take something personally painful and turn it into something beautiful. The ice is melting, our ship is sinking is a metaphor. We, as humans, have abused our environment. If I had inherited my father or grandfathers fishing boat, it would have been easier to make a living as an artist rather than a fisherman, a sad reflection on our marine environment. 

Luiza Milewicz , MOIRÉ MANDALAS - These works evolved from an investigation of the circle as a sacred geometrical shape with association to the mandala, symbolising the idea that life is never-ending and connected. Specifically, the patterns within each circle correspond with the spiral and starburst symbols, with the former used throughout time to represent evolution of spirit and consciousness, and the latter being associated with the sun to represent life, energy, and guidance. More personally, these mandalas are associated with meditative healing, representing a current state of feelings and emotions. Their interactive nature comprises two illuminated spinning acrylic discs set in motion to reveal a subtle moiré effect. 

Alyson Whitney, Bailey the Dachshund’s Custom Dog Urn - Inspiration for Bailey’s Custom Dog Urn: Bailey was a Dachshund and a Parrot Head – that is, a huge Jimmy Buffet fan. He’d been to 43 Jimmy Buffett concerts!  He traveled everywhere with JP, the man who couldn’t bear to eat in a restaurant without his friend by his side. When JP left this earth, Bailey moved on to comfort his wonderful sister, where together they were able to find the ability to love again. Bailey has rejoined JP, helping him watch over the woman they both adore.

Michele Farkas, Cuore Diviso (Heart Divided) - This Fractal Art evokes many emotions within me. Generally speaking, when you see a heart, you think of love, and life, beating in perfect rhythm. However, one that is ruptured causes pain, stress and unrest. In these uncertain times, my heart aches for a world where all will unite as one. No more hatred, prejudice and suffering. Even having an Outsider Artist attitude, which allows me to escape to my own parallel world, evading reality, knows at this very moment, it will take each one of us to step up and BE THE DIFFERENCE. If we truly embrace diversity, which is what makes us great, we can mend this broken heart.

Feiran Wang, Mutated Chicken Yellow - Mutated Chicken Yellow is a mixed-media contemporary sculpture (32X34X6Inches) made of resin, foam and acrylic. The form of the sculpture was inspired by the artist’s own experience of once having a close encounter with one of those godly creatures in her early childhood, in a remote suburban home of Wang’s grandparents in China. The mutated chicken with an underdeveloped third foot, was destined to become the ontological precursor of Wang’s artistic essence and later the centerpiece of her artistic opus.

Anna Chan, Fierce - If sand is my canvas, then seashells collected from the shorelines I frequent are my inspiration, gemstones and brush strokes as an artist. Together they fit seamlessly into a puzzle becoming a new rendition of life greater than their own. Fierce was created to bring awareness to the diminishing Tiger population due to illegal poaching, habitat loss and dwindling food supply. It is part of a permanent series depicting endangered species drawing parallels between their precarious existence and a sand sculpture on the beach. As we observe each portrait, we are reminded of the cohabitants large and small on this planet and if we are doing enough to preserve our world as we know it. 

Catarina Diaz, Placidity - In the centre of the composition, a model stares at us with a distant gaze. Her posture and outfit seem staged in a photoshoot. Still, the energetic body of this figure shows a mixture of tiredness and alienation, the first denounced by the arched back and the second visible in the look and facial inexpressiveness. Three black camellias are blooming on the left side of the composition, adding weight to the atmosphere. But the white owl, which appears in the foreground, perching on this woman’s back while protecting her with a vast white wing, brings us a message to retain: we must notice what is not visible to us and others. And that peace prevails.

Erika Chapman, Merrigold - To me, a portrait should be almost awkwardly intimate...a moment that isn’t for you but you’re here now so all you can do is bear witness. With Merrigold, I feel I’ve been successful in this. Her expression is bold and interrogative.  Somewhere between “Are you here to pet me?” and “You are here to pet me,” yet by contrast she is gentle, comfortable in her blankets and inviting. This is concept is echoed through my use of both the front and reverse sides of the plexiglass to create a 3D effect in its physical depth, inviting the viewer in for a closer encounter. 

Charlotte Condie, Georgiana and the White Beast - Georgiana and the White Beast is a feminine perspective of the St. George story. But it also represents the triumph over global empires that continue to do harm on the world. Georgiana is exacting the final blow on the white dragon dressed in imperial armor and clutching the sphere of global influence. Women, especially women of color, are the ones necessary to deal the final blow to white supremacy, patriarchy, and capitalism that continues to do harm to the global family. 

Vanessa Wenwieser, Blood Moon - Vanessa Wenwieser’s work places the female into the centre of her imagination, liberating them from the typical male gaze, bringing her female perspective to the forefront. In her artworks, women are seen as beings with minds, emotions and intuitively powerful. Using the figure and allusive storytelling elements Wenwieser examines the gap between appearance and being. Feelings are exhibited naked and vulnerable, exploring them in an imaginative and beautiful way, making people see the transcendent. Her aim is to pull the viewer inside her pictures to make them inhabit her otherworldly depictions.  

Daniel Screen, Who Gives A Hoot. Medium: Winsor & Newton Inks, & Sharpie Fineliner on Bristol Smooth Paper, 50 x 40cm framed - As a multimedia artist I really enjoy combining pen and ink together on super smooth white Bristol paper to give a bold punchy artwork.

This piece is of an owl drawn in Sharpie Fineliner giving a bold detailed outline and using a mix of blue inks creating a striking contrasting background.

Daniel Screen, Roar. Medium: Sharpie fineliner and marker on smooth Bristol paper, with mount and liquid gold leaf embellishment, 50 x 40cm framed - I am passionate about nature and landscapes. I enjoy using gold embellishments to bring out the boldness of the line in pen. This lion was my most detailed illustration to date using fineliner and markers to fill in the lion head and background.

The lion uses negative space to allow your eyes to fill in the shadow and body of the face and mane.

Gladys Abrahante, Ms. Wilson - This piece was inspired by myself. In general, the perception we have of people is not always accurate. Ms. Wilson represents a woman of power, confidence, beauty, and manipulation at times, but deep inside she is broken with sadness, pain, and suicidal ideation. Even though her wounds are hidden, she masks herself, pertaining that everything is alright and people's perception of her is skewed. 

Discover More - Instagram: @gladys_obessive_art 

Journey Through ... (Top Image) - This piece was done while I was facing the beginning stages of the pandemic. The pressures from work, expectations from my parents, and inter-conflicts within myself in achieving my hopes and dreams all add up to this mental exhaustion. The name "Journey Through..." is a symbolic representation of an exploration of who I am and how I can  navigate through my circumstances. 

Microchip (Bottom Image)  - does not have a personal storyline. It is, however, an excellent example of my obsessive process creation. I enjoy layering my pieces and constantly working and reworking actions that feel good to me. For example, I used a painting knife to make my markings. My obsessive nature created and repeated marks in different places, forms, and depths throughout the piece. It is a piece that went through so many transformations that it is breathtaking.

Zifeng Zang, Untitled - The inspiration of this painting is for seeking feminine imagery with interactive colors that blend into instinct movement in my mind for celebrating inner freedom and confidence. I use my stylized virtual elements to depict the spirit level of females as a song, echoing the cheerful, beautiful melody and romantic colors.

Mónica Esgueva, Into the Unknown - This piece is a depiction of the fears that accompany a person going into the unknown, and the illusory nature of both those fears and of the surrounding material safety. Venturing into the unknown is certainly courageous. Although it is not easy to leave our securities behind, taking a leap of faith is often very rewarding. The unknown may be scary, but it also gives endless hope and possibilities. We can only be free when we liberate ourselves from fear.

Angela Su, Untitled 63 - For all of my artworks, my description is: “To appreciate or create abstract art is something from beyond the physical realm; it would be insensible to give a description with such limiting words of the human language”.  The messages in the artwork are beyond what the conscious mind can understand, but to those who can “see”, it offers a feeling of liberation from any bounds of this material world.

My works can be understood by the feeling of their energies through the heart.  The messages are on a soul level, and cannot be explained with words.

Tara Dinic, Skittles III - Inspired by her travels, in particular to South America, Tara Dinic works with acrylics to create vibrant, textured colours. The colours and dots used in the artwork depict raindrops and the emotions they bring. For areas of the Earth where it seldom rains, rain can bring happiness, food and colour. This artwork is part of a playful series ”Dots”, a combination of the physical form of rain with the feeling and effect it brings once hitting the Earth’s surface. A visually fulfilling exercise for the eyes and soul.

SILVIA FELIZIA, THE HOUSES ARE UPSIDE-DOWN - The Houses are Upside-down was created in 2021. The inspiration was born from images published in the news related to the humanitarian crises at the border between the United States and Mexico, where thousands of people were seeking asylum.

At this point I do not speak about the politics of immigration. I want to celebrate the life of those people who have the hope of a better life for themselves and their loved ones, a hope so big that they are willing to risk their lives. Even though these pieces emerge from sad stories, they are not sad to the eye. Vibrant and colorful, they honor the beauty and richness of other cultures.

Ana Vollwesen, Weekend Trip, 2022 - A Weekend Trip is a huge Opportunity for getting new Perspectives on Life. Since Travelling is not that easy as it used to be I wanted to display a Piece around the Feeling right before a Trip. The Excitement, the Preperation, the Unknown, which is embraced by the huge black Aera. Some of the Marks might show the Road or Vehicles, different Stages of Movement and Noises. The Green represents the Landscape and the different Shades of Pink are in Alignment with the Time passing during a Trip. It all comes together in one precious Moment. The Question, that is left to the Viewer: Where you there?

Cynthia Hellemink, Conception - Every abstract work is based on reality. This work was created by zooming in on the insides of several oysters that I have found on the beach nearby. You can see a whole new world emerging reminiscent of the emergence of new life. In the womb or in the universe. It’s all connected. 

Emma Carey Baxendale, Evoke no: 5.....Deep burnt oranges collide with dark indigo blues.... - I started my Art works in 2002 when I came back from living in New Zealand for 6 months and travelled around Singapore. These travels illuminated and ignited my Art and expressionism. I specialise on a breadth of experience: Fine art, Graphics, Photography, Textiles, Ceramics and mixed media.In 2021 I decided to take a leap of faith and devote my full attention to painting and creating Art collections to exhibit worldwide.Each piece of Artwork reflects the emotions of life journey’s, feelings, experiences, celebrations, curiosity and highs and lows of life. My art also captures the viewers personal experiences and exploration.

Elly Cho, Visual biomimetics: A State of Art (No.1), 2021, teaser, video animation, 2 minutes 30 seconds - My recent research about color, nature and mental health brought new body of work that explores the relationship between ecology and human existence. By drawing on colors and movement of nature, aesthetic of being, and poetry in nature exploring a sense of mindfulness. I try to mimic the movement of the species and then expanding the drawing to a more imaginary scene of poeticism. I feel that nature is a place where everyone feels to be part of and being in nature, we feel we are together, connected. I experiment further to stimulate viewer’s imaginative response to highly charged but nostalgic awareness of things long since past.

Elly Cho, Visual biomimetics: A State of Art (No.1), 2021, teaser, video animation, 2 minutes 30 seconds - My recent research about color, nature and mental health brought new body of work that explores the relationship between ecology and human existence. By drawing on colors and movement of nature, aesthetic of being, and poetry in nature exploring a sense of mindfulness. I try to mimic the movement of the species and then expanding the drawing to a more imaginary scene of poeticism. I feel that nature is a place where everyone feels to be part of and being in nature, we feel we are together, connected. I experiment further to stimulate viewer’s imaginative response to highly charged but nostalgic awareness of things long since past.

Alan Lacke Cairo, Insta (160x140cm/63x55”)). 2018. Precio 11.200€/9400 libras/12700$ - It is a work that alludes to the social network Instagram. Where there is a wide-ranging international cultural encounter with the visual arts through its platform. With colored waterings I represent multiple geometric shapes that make up an abstract and complex image on the canvas. An infinite network of connections that represents my vision of the Instagram platform.

Betty Southerland, Post Nature Sea Project - This work began with reference from a life-drawing session featuring the work of Jiaxi Wang and Tasnim Chowdhury who created a fashion series imagining humans adapting animal life forms in the last century of mankind. Inspired by the idea of accepting comfort during change, I tried to capture the feeling of being underwater; wobbly and ungrounded, yet unconcerned with fighting the current or coming up for air. Drawing parallels between pandemic life and the unpredictable nature of the sea, the figure represents my experience observing the world evolve from this strange perspective.

MoTó, My endless love - Year 2022 to my loyal and loving dog who died suddenly.

Nataša Gregorič Nabhas, MFA, Eyes liker Her (Cat Eyes) - I have developed a spontaneous technique solely through the exploration of nuanced interaction between different shades - communicating with matter - and mixing ink with other media. The technique effectively portrays my impression, which then interacts with the spectator’s own interpretation. Subconsciously I have an dialog with Monet…

I am painting on various surface (canvas, gessobord, Claybord and also on recycled porcelain and ceramics plate, sculpture etc.) Among other painting media, I also use Yupo, the 100% recycled synthetic paper. Then I reproduce it and enlarge on big canvas Tizian 100cm x 150cm x 4cm. In a cat’s eye, all things belong to cats...

Julie Gayle Balliu, Drainpipes, Canterbury - The inconsequential features of an ancient house provide us with an insight into human progression whilst also allowing us to spectate the rather unemotional history of architecture entwined with human struggle for a place called home. Both functional and decorative, the coal-black iron drainpipes stretch out like maternal tentacles, hugging the handmade orange bricks from times past and map out intimate details of the interior washrooms by their entry and exit points.

I want to show the beauty of the everyday normal and how it’s shaped our living standards and our continuing love of a protected, warm, dry family home, whatever era we live in. 

Carol Foulger, The Three Graces  - My painting “The Three Graces” is my tribute to the city of Liverpool’s maritime heritage. Liverpool has for me, one of the most stunning skylines in the world and the Three Graces are situated majestically on Liverpool’s Pier Head. They are a visual testament to the wealth and prestige of the city. The Three Graces truly are charm, beauty and creativity personified and with the two Liver Birds Bella and Bertie standing proudly, what’s not to love and admire?!

Daniel Screen, Trinity House Experimental Lighthouse. Medium: Sharpie Fineliner & Grey Acrylic ink and Liquid Gold Leaf on Bristol Paper, 50 x 40cm framed - I create most of my art using graphical based illustrative styles which vary from pen, fineliners and ProMarkers and watercolour on a variety of surfaces and drawing boards. For my art I take inspiration from visiting urban and coastal landscapes to use as references to work from.

This piece is of Trinity Buoy Wharf which is home to the iconic Experimental Lighthouse - London’s only remaining example - built in 1864. 

Jens Vange, San Francisco CA 007 - Single exposure photo of a reflected building in clerestory windows of San Francisco’s Moscone Center.

Magritte, Escher, Monet, and Dali have long captivated my imagination; how they translated the edges of reality into the fantastic. This body of work interprets urban buildings through reflections in their neighbors. The abstractions reveal fleeting, unintended architecture that passersby often miss. The hidden dimensions of these photos give viewers pause to decipher what they see, puzzle how images were captured, then look beyond the familiar and uncover - or rediscover - the fantastic. All photos are single exposure.

Alice Gur-Arie, Tianma - Inspired by the Chinese zodiac, I painted Tianma, and wrote the short story “The Mandate of Heaven”. Feeling compelled to undertake the full cycle of “Year of ” animals, I created Twelve: Shengxiao Zodiac Creatures in Art and Words. Containing 32 hand repainted photographs of animals from India, France and the UK, Twelve contains 32 images and 12 short stories - one for each animal in the zodiac cycle. Forward by John E. Vollmer. The companion book, Five, will be published in the Autumn. Twelve is free of charge, and can be viewed here: https://issuu.com/agurarie/docs/twelve

bruks, Voice of Power - Inspired by Matteo Pugliese’s sculpture, Voice of Power portrays in a contemporary manner the feeling to be reborn after defeating all the inner demons that lies within each individual. The main idea started after digging into the spectrum of emotions, the overwhelming ones being symbolized by the green fluid elements. The main protagonist “takes a deep breath” after being released of all of those weights, making space for the “green” emotions to fly to void, aimlessly. Through his hands you can see the fact that those emotions are also leaving his body, reinterpreted as being such-a-like the sand of time, symbolising the fact that no such battle can be won in one day, but becomes a life-lasting experience. 

Jiawei Fu, 520-I Love You - Deceitful Lovers is an on-going series that explores lies that exist in every love relationship. If there are 100 types of love, then there will be 100 types of lies. It just depends on how you perceive it. Inspired by all love stories that the artist witnessed, this series exposes obvious lies in our relationship through depicting body language, and its connection to surrounding objects. Yet hide it with saturate and joyful colors to suggest “maybe that is not a lie, but rather a personal fetish; A different way of love”. 

Maria Christidi, Dysphoria - Dysphoria is a state of generalized unhappiness, restlessness, dissatisfaction, or frustration, and it can be a symptom of several mental health conditions. It is a psychological state that is often caused by or accompanies a mental health condition. Stress, grief, relationship difficulties and other environmental problems can also cause dysphoria. The photograph displays a male model wearing beige tights on his head. The purpose is to show the exact feeling and pain. Intense expression and body language signify the unsatisfaction and asphyxia eager to “escape”. 

Kayee C, I Love Team Building 3 - Inspired by “The Incredulity of Saint Thomas” by Caravaggio, this photo is a personal take with dark humour on the common corporate trend of team building to pursue an appearance of cohesion and extraversion. Out of phase with this culture, some characters in this photo cannot help but display marginal attitudes such as contempt, mistrust or disillusionment. Kayee creates painterly storytelling images by assembling her self-portraits to explore the dynamics of human relationships. Her works can be humorous, dramatic or melancholic staging of a variety of social interactions.

Simona Ruscheva, Galactic - In this work I explore the idea of us as galactic beings, currently situated in this world. We all possess the ability to see beyond the physical matter if we turn to ourselves and see our inner universe. I am using a glittery and textured black paint for the body as it reminds me of a galaxy, which emphasizes my idea visually. However the focal point of the work is centralized head piece with a triangle jewellery in the middle symbolising the third eye, while the woman`s actual eyes are closed, allowing herself to see beyond the material world. 

Krati Jasoria, Serene Buddha - Artwork Description: Aura of tranquility and perfect peace of mind is captured in the blue coloured portrait of a Buddha in deep meditation. The deep colored abstract background in hues of red and blue signifies the flow of positive energy. It is complimented with a pair of lotus flowers, symbol of purity, enlightenment, self-regeneration and rebirth. 

Kohlben Vodden, Yellow Ryan - “Intense”, “confident”, and “stimulating” are words frequently used to describe a fashion model, or world leader, but rarely a hue. This is the power of yellow. It’s influence over us stems from the beginning of time when yellow was psychologically hard-wired to be associated with the most powerful, mysterious, and live-giving-force known to man - the sun. Using colour field techniques in this hard-edge abstract expressionist portrait, yellow commands the viewers’ attention to exclusion of everything else in their environment. Communicating concepts that are foundational to the story of “Yellow Ryan”, the bright primary hue seeds ideas of creativity, happiness and hope. 

Yosserian Geairon, The dreaming girl - Become what you are. If there is only one thing to do with your life, it would be this. Woman, despite all the obstacles she encounters, always persists in what she has most admirable. However, it takes a lot of effort. Before climbing mountains, we have to think about which path to take. Therefore, it is essential that each of us thinks about himself, to then think about the world in which we want to live. The dreaming girl, represented with her eyes closed thinking, is precisely the example that we must follow. Irreproachably calm, despite the colors fleeing  behind her, she thinks of herself, and as a result, emancipates herself from her own condition to access a better one.

Alyssa Doggett, Gratitude - My customer hired me to paint this for his friend who put a lot of work into making her living room one of her favorite places. I could tell from the reference photo that she appreciates color so I didn’t hold back accentuating the luminance and vibrance. I underpainted the shadows with watercolors and completed the painting with gouache. 

Leo Rebella, CAESAR - I use ripped street posters that I collect in urban hotspots. Then I create abstract raw backgrounds, that inherent hundreds of messages and information fragments from past events, concerts, markets and parties. Our time in life is running so fast. We should be more aware of this, make more of our lives, do the things we want. Be a rebel! Write your own story, finally be yourself!

I always add a portrait that tells its very own individual story. Maybe you can relate to it, have memories to that or the person is an idol for you? I want the viewer to get connected to the artwork and feel the urban street vibe. 

ranae ham, abstract emotion dance 1 - Ran-ae Ham is a contemporary artist who combines abstraction and figuration. Although Ran-ae Ham’s work starts from everyday life, her attempt to visually express the experience of the moment rather than simply explaining the situation is excellent. Her work is an attempt to visually express the experience of the moment she lived, but she already clearly grasps the world she needs to understand through painting. An artist’s innate material and individuality are as precious as life, and she captured that value early on, and regardless of fads or technologies, or the gaze and language of others, she will see the future through her own eyes. It faithfully depicts the time to move forward.

Chiara Zhu, Anonymity - The graphic illustration artwork tackles the topic of anonymity as a constant flow of human transformations. Three heads emerge from the left side of the page, building up a symbolic imagery of three human profiles which overlapped with each other. They slowly lose their connotation, at the same time the graphic silouhettes create an empty space almost complementary with them, leaving an intense colorful space which stands for the ‘other’, the nature. It can also be read as a creepy presence and an asymmetrical representation of human relationships with nature.  

Jeff Sheel, Downtown Desperation - A photography of my ongoing project “downtown street stories” captured in Miami February 2022. Always waiting for the right person to walk into the frame with a unique expression on their face. Since the person is not aware of the camera the viewer gets to see real life impressions from the flow of time. My approach to street photography is capturing those magical moments of ordinary life, particularly of people you would look at on the street.

Fruits Quartz360°, Ether dragon - This is a photo. The waveforms of blue and rainbow were reflected. This waveform looks like a dragon, but it looks like the Japanese archipelago. The frequency emitted by this dragon is circular and visualizes how the Earth is organized. Visualization of chemical reactions, the process of light becoming nutrition, the process of nutrition becoming color, Dragons don’t really exist, but they convey them. Looking at the Earth from the inside, it teaches that nutrients made of light retain the shape of the Earth’s external structure.

Maria João Damas, Perspective is a way of thought [4] - My artwork aims to remember the freedom of each person and to hope for peace at a time when everything is in question. Perspective is a way of thought [4] is a statement against war and presents tranquility in order to achieve peace. I am a self-taught visual and performative artist. I live and work in Coimbra, Portugal.

My work is a constant exploration of the media, materials, and techniques. In my paintings I predominantly work in acrylic, mixed media and the base is typically canvas or paper but my artwork also often takes the form of installations, sculpture with social engagement thematics.

Birgit Kaiser, Somewhere new - This piece is based on the understanding that nothing is in isolation, everything is connected. It depicts a building block of life itself, a blueprint of creation, the origin of all form - representing a natural pattern of growth. We can begin to see and understand where we came from, where we are now, and where we are going. The darker background colours suggest the void, the depth of our being - from which a new light emanates. We always have the opportunity to transform ourselves and emerge renewed, with a fresh perspective, a solid foundation and new facets to experience and shape our own reality in a different way.

Maureen Golgata, Birth Of The Sparrow - “Released from fragile shell, free, she embarks on a flight of transcendence, while singing her achingly sweet song..sparrow being busy being born.”

This diptych captures that moment of euphoria, when the human spirit soars beyond ordinary limitations, exceeding the physical in the modern world. Drawn directly from the tube of paint on canvas, this metaphorical work uses gestural drawing to articulate nuances of the human condition, while entwining the connectivity of man and nature. The visceral application of the painted drawing, the drips, smudges and quiet moments among the chaos, parallels the pain, struggle and finally, the exhilaration of this momentous journey.

Natalie Kere, Wahine Matike “Tāniko Series” - This piece I have entered is a commission I have done for my home towns new Library build. It’s the first one from this collection. Its about my connections to the area that I grew up in. The landscape/ land, mountains, river and sea.  Put together in a contemporary form. I have used a triangle pattern which in Māori is called Tāniko. It is such a beautiful design that is very compelling to me. The simplicity speaks for its self and I wanted to combine my connections and incorporate that into this piece of work.

Photographed by Taleea Kere TKaptured Photography.

Anna Dormidontova, Spring Melody - This artwork was inspired by nature’s miraculous ability to rewake and regenerate. We all feel it around and deep inside our souls. This feeling is wonderful, it reminds us that even after the darkest time always comes light, everything will recover and come back to life. We should not forget about this. Especially now when everyone clearly feels insecureness and fragility of our world. 

Heather Lowe, CONFETTO - This work represents my motto -  (paint is always the subject) of itself and its presentation is immediately a sense of fun, celebration and whimsical joy..   

This work is on Canvas completed with GOLDEN and ARTEZA Acrylic Paints .. I hope others have as much fun with this as I have ... 

SILVIA FELIZIA, CATACLYSM - Cataclysm was created in 2021. The inspiration was born from images published in the news related to the humanitarian crises at the border between the United States and Mexico, where thousands of people were seeking asylum.

At this point I do not speak about the politics of immigration. I want to celebrate the life of those people who have the hope of a better life for themselves and their loved ones, a hope so big that they are willing to risk their lives. Even though these pieces emerge from sad stories, they are not sad to the eye. Vibrant and colorful, they honor the beauty and richness of other cultures.

Joseph Willoughby, Freedom? - This piece represents the concept of being free. Free from mental health or an economy and political burdens that weigh down the idea of a peaceful life. Freedom in this scenario is represented by a rainbow balloon, being oppressed by a silver chain and white-collar wrist.

Tracey Elliott, Opening the windows to our past - I was asked if I’d paint something on a wall in our village club as a favour. My village has an old pit, now the Lancashire Mining Museum and I thought this would be a topical and nostalgic thing to paint. I got permission to use a photo and decided the best way to show it would be through a window. The response to this painting was amazing and deeply moving for me because I didn’t realise how many people it would touch, or the memories it would evoke. I am indebted to the local community for their encouragement, their stories and their praise. 

Mieke Douglas, #fake - Pretty photos of flowers from my garden; or recycled gift-wrapping carefully arranged on my office scanner? Look again. One scene, two narratives. A constructed reality. A small act of deceit. ‘Special military operation to protect victims of genocide and abuse’; or full scale invasion and occupation of Ukraine? Another constructed reality. This one more sinister. Since Russia invaded Ukraine morning of 24 Feb the Sunflower has become a global symbol of resistance, unity and hope. Around the world people are posting, wearing, planting, painting and buying sunflowers. These paper flowers symbolise the constructed reality employed in the invasion of Ukraine and the propaganda of deception used by dictators and despots.

Agnes Sheikh, Fragility - Since April 2020, a swing has appeared in my work - lonely, still, or in motion. Acting as a form of meditation and catharsis, the swing allows me to release negativity, leading to emotional restoration and renewal. In this particular painting, close-up perspective of natural world, flowers highlight the theme of fragility and ephemerality. Contrasting with this theme and using fancy stones for my swing, I wanted to create a piece of jewelry, offering strength and considered as a talisman, a protection for me and my fragilities. “Fragility” celebrates the different feelings we carry in, the tiny frontiere between security and uncertainty, anxiety and serenity, chaos and peace and the constant search for balance. 

Veronica Larrea Chandler, Lotus Goddess - Ecuadorian-born artist, creates works that embody the power of raw femininity and Mother Earth. This piece is filled with symbols of healing, blessings and prayers inspired by the native cultures of North and South America. 

Sanjukta Acharya, Pot of Gold - I cannot say any more than has already been said. The world watches with horror, even as Ukrainians stand resilient. A new day will dawn for those who stand strong, and the streets will echo with laughter again. The sunflowers, the national flower of Ukraine, has come to signify the bravery of the common man against the forces of tyranny.  The pot of gold at the end of this ordeal is waiting for the bravehearts of Ukraine..

Geraldine Leahy, Expired - My practice is concerned with coastal erosion, specifically with the objects that have become embedded in the sand following severe weather and the shifting of the terrain. I use found  materials from the beach, monoprinting them into the surface of the canvas, thus suggesting  the way they are similarly embedded in the sand. Layers of acrylic and gouache are added and then partially washed away, referencing erosive activity. This working process often has  incongruous results, with manmade materials adopting strangely organic characteristics. Expired began as a monoprint of found plastic strands which assumed the appearance of dead or dying fish, an ironic confirmation of the impact mankind has had on the coastline.

Louise Hynes, The Future in her Thoughts, portrait of Tracey Emin - This is taken from a photo by the brilliant portrait photographer Alun Callender who kindly gave me permission to use his photo. It’s a portrait of Tracey Emin from my home town of Margate, the artist, at a very difficult time of her life when she was being treated for “bad cancer” . I was moved by the look in her eyes , weary but fighting , the idea that the future is unknown  we think we’re ok and then suddenly we’re not. We know she’s a strong woman but her vulnerability comes through in this portrait. I like her.

Kris Bowmaster, Ecstacies of Commitment - This painting was created in the middle of the pandemic without any audience in mind, with supplies low, and my income halted. I brought out broken spray can bottles and used a nail to gush the lush colors onto the large canvas. From there I applied thick beautiful smears of pink with a pallet knife inherited from a loved one who recently passed. This initial approach was fast action painting.  From there I cared for and nurtured the surface for months, simultaneously bringing form to the painting while retaining the drama of its conception.  

Ernest Compta Llinàs, Always - Barcelona, 1973. Catalan artist and architect, I live and work in Barcelona. My works try to express social and emotional diversity through the face. Over the years I have moved between styles and formats, but I have always worked with the same theme: facial portrait. I work mainly with acrylics on canvas and paper, although some pieces are made with charcoal, oil, pastel and inks. My stylistic influences include abstraction and expressionism. The range of anonymous faces runs on the identity of the characters. I try to express through facial features, looks and gestures, the nuances, complexity and contrasts of the emotional state of the subjects as a reflection of the mood and essential human aspects.