After Lockdown, a Breath of Freedom.

In May 2021, after a long year of lockdowns and uncertainty, parts of France began to reopen with cautious optimism. For months, I had been grounded in Paris—like so many others—navigating a quiet world of restrictions, masks, and hand sanitizers. When travel was finally allowed again, I felt an overwhelming urge to be in nature, to reconnect with space, light, and air. My first trip was to the wine region of Alsace, in northeastern France.

A Landscape Made for Painting
Alsace is known not just for its world-famous white wines, but also for its fairytale beauty. Vineyards stretch for miles across rolling hills, and each village feels like it belongs in a storybook. Timber-framed houses with colorful facades, flower boxes on every window, and cobblestone streets—Colmar, Eguisheim, Riquewihr, Ribeauvillé… each town had its own quiet magic. I also visited the Château du Haut-Koenigsbourg, a mountaintop castle with sweeping views of the region.

This was where I began painting the vineyards of France. I had painted Tuscan vineyards before, but Alsace had its own character—softer light, cooler air, and a distinct cultural blend that gave everything a sense of stillness and richness.

Living Among the Vines
During the trip, I stayed in a quiet farmhouse nestled right inside a working vineyard. Each morning, I woke to soft sun filtering through the windows and the green expanse of vines unfolding in every direction. I walked through the fields in the early hours, watching how the light shifted across the leaves, how the earth held the memory of each step I took photographs, made sketches, and let myself absorb it all slowly.

Coming Back Inspired
When I returned to Paris, I felt full of images, moods, and ideas. That trip opened something for me. I wasn’t just interested in painting vineyards for their beauty—I wanted to capture their rhythm, their quiet confidence, and the way they seemed to hold the passing of time.

It was the beginning of a new series, and one I continue to explore with great affection. The vineyards of Alsace gave me more than subject matter—they reminded me how deeply place can move us, and how even after a long silence, art has its way of returning. With that inspiration still fresh, I now look forward to my next journeys—to the Burgundy region, Champagne, and Bordeaux. Places rich with beauty, history, and new stories waiting to unfold on canvas.

Painting a Future at Risk

In April 2019, I held what remains the most ambitious and meaningful project of my career a solo exhibition at the National Art Gallery of the Maldives titled A Vulnerable Beauty: Maldives. This body of work, created over a year and a half, focused on climate change, sea level rise, and the environmental vulnerability of island nations. I created a series of 31 artworks focused entirely on the theme of climate change and sea level rising.

The exhibition was officially inaugurated on April 12th by the President of the Maldives, with the First Lady, the Minister of Arts and Culture, and senior government officials in attendance. Having the highest level of support gave the event a sense of national importance something I felt deeply grateful for. The exhibition remained open to the public until April 15th.

Art and Environment: A Personal Commitment

This project began with months of quiet research and reflection. I immersed myself in climate science, read reports, and thought about how the Maldives the place where I was born was uniquely vulnerable. Being the flattest and lowest-lying country in the world, the Maldives stands at the frontline of sea level rise. I felt an artistic and personal responsibility to respond.

Some of the paintings in the exhibition celebrated the Maldives’ radiant natural beauty — the sea, the skies, the rhythm of the islands. Others quietly disrupted the calm: high water marks, vanishing coastlines, submerged coconut palms. Each painting in the exhibition was designed to start a conversation. I wanted viewers to feel a connection not only to the landscapes I painted, but also to the urgency of protecting them.

The exhibition space became a creative ground for awareness and contemplation. A projector played a short documentary that traced my artistic journey, allowing visitors to understand the person behind the work and what had led me to this moment. 

When Art Opens Dialogue

During the opening, I had many conversations with visitors about the process, the time it took, and the reasons behind creating such a large-scale body of work. What stood out most were the personal reactions especially from young women who told me how meaningful it was to see a large-scale exhibition on climate change led by a female artist. Several of them shared how it made them feel proud and represented. These conversations and meaningful expressions stayed with me.

Conversations like that reminded me why I make art: not only to express, but also to connect. It is not always about offering answers, but about creating space for shared reflection and discussion.

 The Role of Artists in a Changing World

This exhibition wasn’t only a display of paintings. It was also a space to raise questions — ones I still carry with me:

• What role can artists play in climate awareness?
• How can creative practices help recover local knowledge and values?
• How can we bring together art, activism, and local knowledge?
• Can art help people feel — not just understand — the stakes of environmental change?

These questions shaped both the exhibition and the dialogue that followed.

 A Quiet Milestone

The exhibition received widespread attention, with coverage in over 14 local newspapers and a feature on national television. But more than press, what I remember most are the quiet moments in the gallery — the conversations, the personal stories, and the feeling of seeing the work resonate with others, especially in the place that inspired it.

Looking back, this project asked a lot of me. But it gave me something in return: a deeper understanding of what it means to create with care, and a quiet belief that art can be both beautiful and purposeful. It can bridge the gap between fact and feeling.

As an artist, I believe I have a responsibility to engage with the times we live in. This project allowed me to do that in the most personal way.

From Invitation to Immersion

In 2018, I was invited to participate in Silk Journey to Art—a world tour exhibition hosted in Singapore. The invitation included full board and airfare, with accommodation, meals, and transportation thoughtfully arranged for all participating artists and a curated experience of the city. From the moment I arrived, I could feel the intention behind the event—it wasn’t just about showing work; it was about cultural exchange, connection, and celebration.

We were taken on a private, guided visit to the Singapore National Museum of Art, which was one of the highlights for me. Seeing such an impressive collection, with thoughtful commentary along the way, helped me understand more deeply the region’s creative history and how contemporary voices are shaping its future.

An Artistic Gathering Across Borders

The exhibition brought together artists from across the world. After just a few days of conversations, shared meals, and city explorations, strangers became close friends. I met incredible artists from Korea, Thailand, Germany, Macedonia, Canada, and many other places. It was one of those rare moments where art truly became a universal language something that connected us beyond borders, age, or background.

The work on display reflected an incredible diversity of mediums and stories, but what united all of us was a shared dedication to creativity, and a genuine curiosity for each other’s cultures.

A Personal Milestone

For me, this exhibition marked another meaningful step in my journey. My work was selected to become part of the Yi Pu Culture Permanent Collection in Singapore, It remains a meaningful milestone for me. Having a piece of my creative work included in an international permanent collection is not just a personal achievement—it’s a reminder of the journey that brought me there.

Looking Back, Looking Outward

Singapore gave me more than a venue to exhibit my work. It offered friendships, cultural exchange, and moments I’ll never forget. Events like Silk Journey to Art remind me that art isn’t just something we make—it’s something we share. And sometimes, in sharing it, we find ourselves a little more understood, a little more connected.

Exhibiting at the Florence Biennale

In 2017, I had the honor of exhibiting my work at the Florence Biennale, one of the most renowned contemporary art exhibitions in Europe. Held in the heart of Florence, Italy—a city so deeply tied to art history—it felt surreal to be surrounded by the very streets that once inspired the Renaissance.

Being invited to participate alongside accomplished international artists was both exciting and humbling. The atmosphere was electric from the moment I arrived.

 

Opening Day in the Heart of Florence

The Biennale opened with a beautiful ceremony rich in tradition. Visitors and artists from across the globe filled the space, as a procession of people in historic Italian costumes paraded through the halls, flags in hand, with traditional music echoing behind them. It was a grand start, rooted in history, pride, and celebration.

Behind the scenes, everything ran smoothly. The event team was exceptionally well-organized, and I truly appreciated their help setting up my space and making every artist feel supported and welcomed. Their care added to the sense that this was more than just an art fair—it was a global creative gathering.

 

My Paintings: A Personal View of Tuscany

I presented three paintings at the Biennale, one of which was part of a long-term personal project titled “Under the Tuscan Sky.” This series began after my repeated visits to the Tuscany region, where I fell in love with the land’s rolling hills, infinite greens, and the rhythm of daily life. I’d taken countless reference photos over the years, and slowly, a body of work started forming—one that translated not just the look of Tuscany, but its feeling.

That particular painting held a quiet story. It was a reflection of my emotional connection to Tuscany—the soft light, the silhouette of cypress trees, and the peaceful, infinite horizon. Every brushstroke in that piece carried part of the awe I felt standing in those fields.

 

A Place That Inspires the Artist Within

Tuscany isn’t just beautiful—it feels alive. The food, the people, the light, the textures of the land… they leave an imprint. Every visit reawakens something in me creatively. There’s a grounded joy in how people live there—how meals are shared, how art is valued, how nature is respected. It’s no surprise that so many artists feel drawn to it.

During the Biennale, conversations flowed easily between artists—some who had been exhibiting for decades, others new like me. We talked about process, materials, doubts, dreams. Being in that environment reminded me that art is a shared language, one that crosses borders and backgrounds.

 

What I Took Home

The Florence Biennale became more than just an exhibition—it was a turning point. Seeing so many voices come together in one place gave me perspective, not only on where I was in my artistic journey, but on where I wanted to go next.

I left Florence feeling inspired and deeply grateful. The work I saw, the people I met, and the city itself reminded me that pursuing art is a continuous path—sometimes challenging, always rewarding. This experience gave me both the encouragement and the clarity to continue evolving, exploring, and expressing.