Artwork Explained: "Nature's Playground"

The ‘Artwork Explained’ Blog series is where I share a bit of information behind some of my Artworks. This can include the mediums used, the incentive behind creating them, the story behind them or what was happening in my world during that time. I take caution in not explaining too much about what the artworks represent, as I would like to adhere to my belief that Art is always perceived uniquely to each individual.

NATURE’S PLAYGROUND

In 2019, I travelled on my own to Kathmandu, Nepal, on a volunteering basis to work with children. I spent four weeks working with the children in both a school and a Disability Rehabilitation Centre, and after my time was up I ventured South-West to a place called Chitwan; a wild and warm, humid district of Nepal, thick with a dense green landscape. I had already visited Chitwan a couple of weeks prior on an excursion with the fellow volunteers, and having deliberately left the last ten days of my time in Nepal free, it was this excursion that had me decide to spend it in Chitwan.

I chose to come back to Chitwan because it was the most raw environment I had experienced yet- it was not corrupted by immense tourism like other places were, the entire landscape was- in my opinion- a much more authentic reflection of the Nepali countryside lifestyle. Here is an excerpt from my journal on the day that I photographed what would soon become this small painting I called “Nature’s Playground”:

“It was barely 8am and the town (Sauraha) was still preparing for the day. It was sunny but big fluffy white clouds hung in the sky so I suspected it might rain later. Luckily I brought my umbrella and rain jacket. I took a right a little way after the Elephant statue- the town is quite small and I know my way around quite well now. I came to a loose pebbled road that was wedged between houses and big rice fields. I was overtaken by many kids on bicycles, scooters and buses with umbrellas to shade themselves from the sun.

I managed to finally get photos of the subjects I wanted: mothers tending to their children, ducks and chickens frolicking within the boundaries of their homes, eager children on their commute to school, buffalo lazily grazing in their vast green paddocks, women in bright colours picking the rice from their fields- some of them catching some well-deserved rest under the shade of an umbrella, men hard at work… I kept walking, expecting to reach a busy town with shops but it just kept getting more rural. Babies in their parent’s arms staring at me, confused, cheeky school kids waving at me from the back of the school bus, young children calling out “Namaste!” from the front yard of their houses- big smiles reciprocated between us. Even the goats took a second look at me , I swear… I checked my maps and saw I had already passed Sauraha centre - turns out I am staying in the town centre and was walking out into the village area, so that gave reason to all the attention I was receiving out there. I couldn't have been happier. It truly felt like I was witnessing something that very few from my part of the world get to. "

When I was attempting to sort through the thousands of photos I had taken to paint from, I was making a conscious effort to choose ones that represent a particular feeling, a mood, and that told a story of the kind of lifestyle in that particular place.

The young girl playing in the field was only moments ago in the arms of her mother as she picked rice from the field; people from a culture consistently hard at work, yet still in touch with the simplest of things in life, such as play.

Until next time, keep creating. -Madeline x