Artist: Maria Esperanza Larrazabal

“My piece “Miss Joachim” was something I made over the pandemic. It reflects the escapism I enjoyed in the beautiful parks of Singapore and my new found joy in flowers.

I’ve been wanting to do a series of paintings inspired by the flora, fauna, and culture of Singapore. In these months of the pandemic I feel like I have been calmed by the warm embrace of nature in the beautiful Parks of Singapore. This series will be my ode to the nature that is inspiring me to paint these paintings. Throughout the pandemic I have also immersed myself in the art of floral arrangement. This has resulted in my dreams being invaded by flowers. I suppose this painting is a reflection of that, my idea of a flower head. The flower in the painting is the national flower of Singapore called Vanda Miss Joaquim.”