THE SECRET GARDEN

This work is inspired by Frances Hodgson Burnett’s novel The Secret Garden. The book takes you through the changing seasons alongside the protagonist's journey to overcome the pain of abandonment, cultivate trust in the world and ultimately grow into her truest self.

It was a symbol of hope and understanding for myself through a period of my life and upon reflection, reading the book at the time was a visual metaphor for the cyclical nature of healing, self-discovery and personal evolution—a state that I find myself in constantly. Always crashing, shedding, emerging and growing. I thought it would be great to have visuals to anchor me through each mandatory stage of growth.

Historically, my personal struggle has been an over-focus on a sense of lack. I frequently find myself wanting to bypass the process entirely, rushing toward the end goal of fulfilment while ignoring the necessary milestones directly in front of me. This series taught me that manifestation requires an active surrender: letting go of the obsession with a future outcome means learning to trust the ground beneath my feet today.

I start with spring, the familiar scent of the flowers getting ready to bloom. The new beginnings have indeed taken root even though there is no visual sight of this. Summer captures the show, the high stage of life—a vibrant, expansive feeling that you know cannot last forever, yet you will enjoy the moment and memories. I then take you down to autumn or fall. The swell of the winds and incoming shedding of leaves will have you looking towards the horizon, sensing more to come from life and winter gently ushers you into the darkness of the cocoon, regenerating and final shedding of the old to be reborn again at spring.