Somalia was once the seat of the most powerful empires in history, using its proximity between the sea-lines from Asia to east Africa to Europe. It still a major global trading center and place of geopolitical importance due to its proximity to the Suez canal and having Africa's longest coast. Unfortunately it has also fractured into a number of autonomous states that are at odds with each other and neighboring Egypt. Its geography is surprisingly varied with mountains, plateaus, valleys, rivers, forests, savannah and arid desert. Looking around the internet most of the pictures were similar to what I had painted in nearby Eritrea, or the various landscapes of Egypt. What caught my eye was an incredible cactus flower called
Edithcolea grandis (also known as Persian carpet flower). It grows across the middle east and northern Africa, in Somalis it is even harvested and eaten as a vegetable. I liked its memorizing patterns, similar to what I paint in the abstract series, it reminded me of Van Gogh's stars. In the background is the landscape, a sun baked ground cracked and dusty. Complementing the scene is a sprig of prickly cactus. A beautiful flower, fighting for its own existence on a harsh land.
World Inspired Landscapes: Somalia, watercolour 6 x 7.5" cold press, April 2025
No comments:
Post a Comment