My project explores the deep emotional connection I have with my grandparents’ farm through the painting of flowers that once surrounded their home. Each flower represents a memory — moments of warmth, care, and growth that shaped my sense of belonging. The combination of paint and stitched threads reflects both strength and fragility, mirroring the way memory can be both vivid and delicate. By stitching directly onto my paintings, I aim to create a tactile sense of vulnerability, as if mending or preserving something precious. The stitches become symbolic scars of time and emotion, suggesting healing, continuity, and attachment.
This process allows me to physically embed my affection and nostalgia into each piece, transforming the canvas into a living surface of memory and feeling. Ultimately, my work celebrates the beauty of imperfection, the tenderness of connection, and the enduring influence of the place and people I love most.
Martyna Gawlowska
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My project explores the theme of delicate flowers, focusing on their fragile structures, thin textured stems, and soft yet expressive petals. Each painting aims to capture not only the physical qualities of flowers, but also the emotional significance they hold for me. Even the faintest colours in the background carry meaning, representing subtle feelings and memories connected to nature and personal experiences.
To create this body of work, I experiment with a range of mark-making tools such as sticks, brushes, palette knives, and other painting implements. These tools allow me to build tactile surfaces and varied textures, echoing the organic complexity of real flowers. I intentionally layer colour into the petals and surrounding space, allowing the paint to speak through both strong and subtle tones.
For this series, I work primarily with acrylic paint, a medium I am confident with through previous study and practice. Its fast drying time and versatility help me explore different surface qualities and techniques. Moving forward, I aim to expand beyond acrylics and push my material boundaries, continuing to deepen my connection to flowers and their delicate symbolism within my artistic process.
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