I was a quiet young girl growing up. I was the ‘ideal daughter’ - did everything I was asked to do, never argued or disobeyed. Although everything appeared to be fine, it wasn’t. I was denied the tools for self-expression. Today I am learning a new language as an artist.

In this collection, I dived into the memories of that young child, reliving the pain and frustration she felt when she tried to speak but was ignored, helping her to letting go of the guilt she had been carrying for years due to being misunderstood, and allowing her to look in the mirror and recognise the strong force inside her. I set her free.

Utilising raw canvas allowed for an intuitive and unrestrained exploration of colours, shapes, and marks because of its smooth texture, neutral colour, and capacity to absorb water. I was fascinated by the bold, imperfect rocks that are buried beneath the ocean in Cascais, where I reside. They remain mostly buried until the ocean calms down and reveals itself, creating a new landscape.

“Unleashed” refers to a state of being liberated, free and unrestrained. It also describes releasing an uncontrollable force. Both of these describe my experience while working on this collection. I was completely lost in the process, but felt confident that I couldn’t make any mistakes. I learned to trust myself and to give a voice to the little girl. I hope this collection inspires you to listen to your younger self.