Art possesses a unique ability to
mend emptiness, heal emotional wounds, and bring individuals closer to their
inner selves. It has played a significant role in my mental well-being and has
allowed me to redefine myself within my new home in Canada.

During my maternity leave with my
firstborn, he experienced anaphylactic shock at just three months old. As I
navigated through the uncertainty and tried to comprehend the implications of
this event, I turned to art. I purchased some paint supplies from the dollar
store, and this marked the beginning of my rebirth and the discovery of my
purpose. Art became my savior during this heart-wrenching time. As a mother,
the fear of losing something so precious to me plunged me into a dark phase.
The only solace I found was in the stillness of painting or drawing, capturing
my last joyful memories of my mission in Zambia.

Art has become my means of
communicating my lived experiences. Oscar Wilde once said, "Man is least
himself when he talks in his own person. Give him a mask, and he will tell you
the truth." Sometimes, our bodies feel what our minds have yet to process.
Art allows the artist to find themselves, while the observer delves deeper
within to grasp the message.

Expressing the depths of our
inner selves can be challenging for others to understand, but art has a subtle
way of filling that void, enabling us to share our essence with the world. Much
of my work focuses on my African heritage. Throughout my middle school years, I
often found myself assimilating into Canadian culture and sharing with my peers
what it was like to be born and raised in Africa. While some questions stemmed
from ignorance, I always seized these moments as opportunities to educate my
peers.