The Garden I Became

Artwork story

For so long, I believed love and acceptance came from chasing people and seeking their validation. Growing up, I feared being defined by being raised by a single mother. I begged to be seen and constantly proved myself to people who never truly cared. This work reflects the moment I realized I had been chasing butterflies instead of becoming the flower. The colourful female portrait represents the parts of myself I gave away while seeking approval. The garden symbolizes my potential, originality, and the peace I found when I stopped performing for the wrong audience. The golden butterflies

Inspiration:
This piece was inspired by my personal journey of seeking love, acceptance, and validation from people. Growing up, I feared being defined by being raised by a single mother, so I constantly tried to prove myself. Eventually, I realized I had been chasing butterflies instead of becoming the flower.

Process:
I created the female portrait as a reflection of the parts of myself I had given away while seeking approval. The garden represents growth, potential, originality, and inner peace, while the golden butterflies symbolize the love, belonging, affection, and acceptance I once believed I needed from others.

Emotion:
The work carries vulnerability, reflection, healing, and acceptance. It represents the moment I stopped seeking validation from the wrong people and began to understand my own worth.

Themes:
The major themes are self-acceptance, identity, womanhood, resilience, validation, healing, personal growth, and self-worth.

Reference:
The central reference is the relationship between a flower and butterflies. A flower does not chase butterflies; it simply grows, blooms, and attracts them. For me, this became a metaphor for becoming the best version of myself instead of chasing acceptance.