A collaboration between Amaranthia Sepia, Linlin Yu and Nabila Nugroho, inspired by Claire’s cancer journey and the Sista Creatives Rising logo. Art by Amaranthia Sepia, pond and background coloring by Linlin Yu, and concepts by all three of the artists.
Sunflowers were, and still are, a major part of Claire’s healing journey as she fought lymphoma. They represent the light that Claire sought to find during such a dark time. Many neighbors and friends and online acquaintances drew artwork with sunflowers and gave sunflowers to Claire when she was hospitalized. At the same time, Claire imagined herself as the lotus flower, which blooms no matter what, in muddy, murky waters. The lotus flower is a symbol of perseverance in Buddhism, especially in the Japanese Buddhism Claire & Amaranthia practice. The chamomile and lavender represent tranquility, calmness and healing.
The image shows Claire’s journey as she looks down at her reflection in a pond shaped like the Earth, reminiscing about her fight and will to live, while coming to terms with her new disability.
ID: A nude voluptuous brown woman holding a red cane with a white handle in front of her, stands at the edge of a clear pond reminiscent of Mother Earth. The woman's full body is reflected in the ponds. Her body is covered with artistic body paints in swirls and curves OC fuschia. Her head is represented by a colorful pink lotus flower with a green center. The water in the pond appears to form clouds and other shapes much like how earth appears from space. On the edge of the globe, sunflowers, cattails, chamomile and lavendar extend upwards. Lily pads and lotus flowers float in the clear, blue water. Above the white text at the top is th “Art & Mind” floats on a bed of green vines with golden sunflowers at either end. This is all suspended on a dark cloudy background.