endings and new beginnings

rise exhibition

A collaborative art exhibition created by RISE project participants.

This exhibition is also displayed in the bridge café.

 

betrayal

Once the glass has shattered.

The shards of glass cut deep where love and trust was assumed. 

We now see the snakes and haters, jealousy has replaced compassion.

Wicked intentions replace trust. Pray to grow and fix broken hearts and dreams.

copyright courtesy of the artist

and tomorrow is another day

We all have bad days when everything goes wrong and London crowds push past you, the kindness of people evaporates, what else? Then there is hope for tomorrow.

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ever changing seasons of life

If we could predict when things are good in life, we would bottle it and keep it for when life turns sour and bad and floods of resilience is needed to get through, just one day.

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My theme since I got to a good place in my life is moons, suns and stars. I feel more bright and energetic. I have been producing these nearly every Friday at RISE. A good place in life means less anxiety, depression and being less brutal to me. So, this is my new way of life.

copyright courtesy of the artist

This art work was themed ‘winter blues’. In this I didn’t want to portray winter blues and glooms. Instead, I went with a nice bright narrative. Nice bright colours and beautiful girly themes. I enjoyed putting them all together. It was fun producing something bright on a day this is nothing but.

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fairytale with no worries

faries, faries, fly high with no worries high in the sky.

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challenge me with your swirls

Swirls, you challenge me with my dizziness, I like a challenge. So be still.

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Dear viewer, I would invite you to go with your gut feeling about these pieces when you look at them. 

What do you think they mean?

Are there any connections between them? Do they evoke anything in your own world?

The only thing that I would say, is that for me, on reflection they are powerful and got to the heart of the matter without me realising. I did not plan any of these pieces, or attempt to draw, they just emerged.

The mystery of art, when you're not aware of what you're doing.

copyright courtesy of the artist

Dear viewer, I would invite you to go with your gut feeling about these pieces when you look at them. 

What do you think they mean?

Are there any connections between them? Do they evoke anything in your own world?

The only thing that I would say, is that for me, on reflection they are powerful and got to the heart of the matter without me realising. I did not plan any of these pieces, or attempt to draw, they just emerged.

The mystery of art, when you're not aware of what you're doing.

copyright courtesy of the artist

 

Dear viewer, I would invite you to go with your gut feeling about these pieces when you look at them. 

What do you think they mean?

Are there any connections between them? Do they evoke anything in your own world?

The only thing that I would say, is that for me, on reflection they are powerful and got to the heart of the matter without me realising. I did not plan any of these pieces, or attempt to draw, they just emerged.

The mystery of art, when you're not aware of what you're doing.

copyright courtesy of the artist

how to be happy

copyright courtesy of the artist

face it

Put your face on and

Face up to the world

Face down the world.

copyright courtesy of the artist

 

radiating love in all colours

copyright courtesy of the artist

at one with nature

I love nature because it’s so peaceful and has lots of secrets and magic. I feel free and at one with nature like it’s my best friend. It’s the only thing that understands me, and I understand nature.

copyright courtesy of the artist

running free

There are just 4 primary colours, out of those come all of the other colours in the world.

copyright courtesy of the artist

 

angel of death

In the midst of grief of the loss of my grandparents this year. Their deaths has caused a sorrow of pain in my mind and body I’ve never experienced before. Sometimes no words can truly express the sadness, anger, guilt and void I’m feeling. Even though im not alone in my journey of grief I do often feel alone. A part of me and my childhood is gone but I know their spirits guided by angels will be nearby to comfort and guide me. A life without love means to not grieve, but to really live, we must love.

copyright courtesy of the artist

reflection

This piece of drawing shows my love for nature in all its seasons and my emotions for the past year often feeling colourless. I showed this piece physically to my late Nana at the beginning of her terminal cancer journey, visiting at the hospital with a dear friend of mine. Later the same day I showed my Grandpa and shared a lovely meal together, this being our last time and memory together. Some of my art will always be special with meaning to me especially as my grandparents loved this drawing, reflecting on those precious memories of love and loss.

copyright courtesy of the artist

complexity

Feeling and being pulled in different directions of life with the constant struggles and battles to advocate for myself to get the support I need. With all the complex emotions I’m feeling mentally and the physical pain I feel in my body, takes a toll on me just like the complex nervous system of an Octopus.

copyright courtesy of the artist

 

snakes and fakes

Masks, Snakes and Fakes

Happy days, sad days

People and their ways

Be careful who is passing,

Could be another smiling assassin

copyright courtesy of the artist

twist and turns

Life with its twists and turns

Hoping for a brighter future

My spirit yearns

I wake up, my mind is in a yuggle.

Another day, another struggle…

copyright courtesy of the artist

me too

Ever been let down, me too.

Broken hearted, me too.

Ignored the red flags, me too.  

Love the sunshine, me too.

Not a millionaire, me too.

copyright courtesy of the artist

 

mystical forest → stages of change

Portal of hope, Joy and acceptance, a beginning

 of possibilities to learn, develop and grow. 

copyright courtesy of the artist

mystical forest → stages of change

The need to achieve, create and succeed.

Craving the need to control and conquer.

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 mystical forest → stages of change

Learning to flow and let go.

Time to accept, allow, love and release.

copyright courtesy of the artist

 

comes spring, out of darkness comes the light

Spring brings life and light, joy and hope.

Spring blossoms, a delight to see.

Pretty flowers and greenery.

Renewed energy.

copyright courtesy of the artist

hot and cold

Lots of colours, trying to convey titled piece.

Lots of energy was used, covering every inch of the paper.

copyright courtesy of the artist

fantasy holidays

I love sunsets and the sounds of the waves on golden sandy beaches.

My dreams for a peaceful escape.

copyright courtesy of the artist

 

light far away, hope

Women, never give up, keep going…

copyright courtesy of the artist

framed in dreams, life is tough but so beautiful

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cocooning in colours

Growing strength is not easy, it can only happen with love and compassion

copyright courtesy of the artist

 

trauma response seeping through the subconscious

When your safety net starts to tear, and all the trauma you shielded yourself from seeps into your subconscious. Affecting your sleep cycle feeling more alert than usual, senses becoming heightened and responses are more visceral. The colours displayed each have different meanings, red means love and anger; purple means creativity and passion; orange means optimism; blue means sadness and calmness; green means calmness, growth and clarity; brown means disruption murkiness and yellow means uncertainty and control. The pink net represents protection and shielding, the black smoke represents PTSD and blocked memories.

copyright courtesy of the artist

lotus flower floating on the reflective queer spectrum

 The lotus flower symbolizes strength, rebirth, spiritual awakening, growth and beauty. The water represents the colours of the pansexual flag, bisexual flag, which conveys my journey with my sexuality and gender identity

copyright courtesy of the artist

one day…

A poem and illustration on how I hope life will be one day, whether in the distant future or tomorrow. What happens today, may change tomorrow or stay the same depending on what actions myself or other people take. Life is unpredictable, and all I can imagine is that one day I will sail through that unpredictability and things will be clear…

copyright courtesy of the artist

 

triptych ‘the end’

The closure of the project ‘RISE’ makes me feel helpless, weak and powerless.

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time and season

I have been collecting leaves and usually do this in Autumn as this is the cheerful time just before the death of the life of the tree. They are dormant in winter as the sap withdraws into the trunk but the bare branches look like skeletons to me and make me feel sad, the last trumpeting of colour just before the sleep of winter when everything hibernates and goes asleep.

copyright courtesy of the artist

eaten alive

This is how I felt when overwhelmed and alone and how sometimes when noise and people get when they’re violent and angry, the figure sits with their back to the audience alone and in a dark place not meant for good people, it is a place maybe that becomes too immersive like a tunnel the mouth is a constant roar. The figure is alone in the angry and noisy chasm.

copyright courtesy of the artist

 

behind bars

Every day I feel like I am still behind bars, I am unable to let go, still trapped, some days are better than others, I can see colour on a sunny day but most times it’s dark, unable to let go, still being haunted by the darkness... one day at a time…

copyright courtesy of the artist

behind bars

Every day I feel like I am still behind bars, I am unable to let go, still trapped, some days are better than others, I can see colour on a sunny day but most times it’s dark, unable to let go, still being haunted by the darkness... one day at a time…

copyright courtesy of the artist

behind bars

Every day I feel like I am still behind bars, I am unable to let go, still trapped, some days are better than others, I can see colour on a sunny day but most times it’s dark, unable to let go, still being haunted by the darkness... one day at a time…

copyright courtesy of the artist

 

we would love to hear what you think about the RISE ‘endings and new beginnings’ exhibition.

Let us know how the premiere of our digital exhibition was for you by leaving your feedback in the box below. It may be about the exhibition as a whole, or something that you would like to say to a particular artist. All thoughts welcome.