Every painting I create is a reflection of my inner and outer world at the time of its creation. Often, the full meaning only becomes clear later, when I have had the opportunity to live through and process that chapter of my life.
Inception was the first piece I painted after moving to London. Adjusting to life in a new city was no easy feat: absorbing the energy of such a different place and, at the same time, recovering from the enormity of the past few years.
After years of working non-stop on exhibitions and uprooting my life from Australia to start from scratch in London, I found myself completely exhausted. I needed breathing space. My studio here wasn’t ready for two months while it was being renovated, forcing me to pause and slowly settle into my new reality. The micro and macro changes I was experiencing became a profound initiation into surrender and letting go. With the constant love and kindness of my boyfriend, I was able to navigate this period with greater ease.
When I look at Inception, I see a woman being swept away by a powerful current. Her surroundings are dark and ominous, yet through them weave tendrils of light that hold and guide her as she flows into the unknown. She is being carried towards the light, exactly where she needs to be. Her support is always present, always watching.
This painting marks the beginning of my new life in London, a life I had envisioned and manifested. With expansion comes the growing pains, moments of doubt, and a torrent of shifting emotions. But these transitions are necessary.
Once we stretch and grow, we can never go back to our previous dimensions. The only way is forward. The only answer is surrender.
Ella Baudinet is an artist who stands out for seeking Stendhalian aesthetic experiences with her work, through the representation of the sublime, the generation of visual tension throughout her creations, and precise use of chiaroscuro.
