Camomille Dreaming by Lotus Vivirviel, currently showing at the Saskatoon Community Youth Arts Programming gallery, is an emotional and meaningful exhibition that reveals the artist’s journey leading to self-acceptance.

This exhibition shows many of the therapeutic benefits from creating art. Aside from being an avenue for self-expression for the artist, art also offers a chance to foster healing. 

The works in this exhibit are inspired by Vivirviel’s appreciation of everyday life while going on evening bike rides. Trying to see beyond the mundane in everyday life has allowed Vivirviel, also known as Lightofalotus, to reflect. The paintings that came to life express “what was needed without restraint of judgement.”

Abstract elements are present in many different pieces by Lightofalotus. She uses a variety of mediums in her artistic process including acrylic, watercolour, ink and digital media. The majority of her work uses photographs from her daily life as references, while others involve significant alterations from the original source of inspiration by her imagination. Many of the pieces echo Lightofalotus’ frame of mind, and she describes the feeling as “very vaporwave.”

Using traditional watercolour or acrylic paints, the exhibit shows a combination of ultramarine blue and magenta colours that the artist gravitated to, creating a futuristic tone. Van Gogh’s technique involving expressionism and his brushwork have a great significance in this exhibition, according to Lightoflotus.

Lightoflotus says that abstract painting has brought her “a lot of inner peace,” healing as a survivor of trauma. She says the paintings in Camomille Dreaming that include women or women with no face are an accurate representation of the difficulty for her to express emotions.

Lightoflotus says that “being messy and free was a breath of fresh air.” 

The artistic process helped her vocalize her emotions. There’s a common theme found in the exhibition’s darker or more conceptual paintings: Vivirviel’s experiences with dissociation. Putting these types of emotions into the process is what brought these paintings to life and made them more meaningful.

For the people that want to gain further knowledge and appreciation for Vivirviel’s artwork, check out Labour of Love Piece, a particular piece that combines everything that the artist learned and that changed many times during her journey. It is mostly about not caring about other people’s perception and encouraging self-care. The important message that the artist wants to bring out with this piece is to “never stop working on yourself.” 

Vivirel is a self-taught artist and her work and process shows that art is worth considering for its therapeutic benefits for those who face difficulty in expressing themselves after going through a traumatic event.

The artworks that can be found in this exhibit are not only meant to shed light on the artist’s emotions and personal journey, but also to show that survivors are more than just their trauma.

Vivrel’s work in Camomille Dreaming is remarkable not only for its appearance, but also the story and message behind it.  

Camomille Dreaming by Lotus Vivirviel is showing at the SCYAP gallery until Nov. 19.

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Kristine Jones A. Del Socorro | Culture Editor

Photo: Ammara Syeda | Photo Editor