The Malta Independent on Sunday
Rays of sunshine after the storm
“We have had our farmhouse in Gozo for nearly 40 years, so I can safely say Malta and Gozo feel like home with strong family connections, somewhat more than where I grew up, in a small rural village called Tarporley, in Cheshire, England.
My son James, was born in Victoria, Gozo and my grandmother grew up in Sliema and only left Malta aged 25 when my grandfather stole her away. My great grandmother was Spanish and opened the first tea rooms in Mdina. Her British husband, my great grandfather was instrumental in the design of the Clock Tower in Mtarfa.
This collection of paintings is the story of rebirth after a series of traumatic and life-threatening events in my life. It is a story of hitting rock bottom and rising . . . of second chances and starting over.
Coming to understand life’s lessons, through a journey of self-discovery, I learnt that to feel fear is part of life. Being courageous comes from within. It is what you do with that unease, when you need to be brave, that makes you stand up and be counted.
I am interested in healing from within, in acceptance, understanding and forgiveness and have journeyed to find a place of peace. In hard times, in fact more so in tough times, I have come to believe that this is indeed possible.
Many of these elements I thought I had grasped, only to discover there was still a lot to learn about myself. After long periods of self-reflection, in my continued recovery, a whole new perspective and awareness of life has developed, where I came to understand that perfection does not exist and that true strength comes from within; no one can really help you but yourself.
The challenge for any artist in the world of multi media is to strive to tell a story on canvas, retaining the goals of uniqueness. Through my illness, and ultimate recovery, as I painted, I also wrote. I questioned our existence, where we come from and why we are here and which lessons are to be learnt in this lifetime. It strengthened my sense of self, self love and self worth. Perhaps my work invites the spectator to experience the bodies fragility, as I explored notions of transience, life, death, the harmony of freedom and the beauty of inner wisdom. I understood there was much more I would have to practice to heal entirely and stay well. I knew that it would take an immense effort, with every atom of my being to work alongside modern medicine to get the results I desired. Quieting
ANNA NIGHTINGALE
ANNA NIGHTINGALE graduated with a BA Hons in Fine Art Painting from Central St Martins in 1996. Since then she has been working as a full time artist commuting between her studios in Gozo and Luxembourg. She is Director of Intimate life drawing events on Malta and Gozo. www.annanightingaleart.com
Breathe, her collection of recent paintings opens first at ArtEGallery, Victoria, Gozo from 4th to 27th December, and at the Malta Postal Museum, 135 Archbishop street, Valletta from 10th December to 6th January.
In her Diary the artist ponders on recent life events and how these had a bearing on her life and her art.
one’s mind becomes paramount. In this quest I started to practice meditation daily, at first it was guided and eventually I was able to practice transcendental meditation. I also regularly had Reiki sessions, both were and are vital to my life.
During this journey my son James found Art a perfect way to express his innermost feelings, after all we were on this journey together. We always talked about what I am going through. I simply sat with him and asked him to tell me about his drawings and very quickly I realised I must write it down. He was not illustrating my words, I was writing his pictures. We often would say to each other ‘it’s ok’ and that it ‘will pass’ and indeed it did.
In our home and in my studio we both paint and draw, we pertain to be in the eternal present. Just be. He seems to have this natural ability. I am constantly learning from him.
My story of finding completeness, balance and joy is transcribed through the many layers of paint. They are images in the mind, capturing a moment in time; images that can be completed by the recipient. The messages and symbols I manifest are universal – they celebrate love, female strength and coming to own oneself. They represent the very essence of being alive, transcending time and space.
Both of these collections, to be seen in my beloved Gozo and Malta this month are dedicated to my son James, aged 9, my fellow warrior. Everything I do, I do for him.
Our book, ‘It’s OK’, will be published in 2022 along with my power thoughts book Walk into your Rainbow.”