№31

Butterfly

This Earth Painting is held together by carefully handcrafted butterfly joints, crafted using traditional Japanese woodworking tools and methods. Joining the vulnerable meeting points at the corners of the pine frame, the joints serve as both structural and symbolic support —echoing the role women play in holding families and communities together through times of upheaval. They represent transformation, rebirth, and the inner strength required to heal and evolve as cornerstones of their communities.

More than a number
The numbering of each Earth Painting continues from our first series — a deliberate choice reflecting the dehumanising processes many refugees endure, where individuals are often reduced to statistics rather than recognised for their unique stories and inherent humanity.

Specifications

• Approximate dimensions: 28 x 39 x 4.5 cm
  
• Surface: recycled denim canvas on a reclaimed pine wooden frame with butterfly joints using, finished in Jacobean oak stain
• Medium: variety of marl, marble, ochres, sand, charcoal, soil and organic matter, pine needles
• Origin pigments: the Netherlands, Italy, France, England

As always, this Earth Painting was produced via an all-natural process with personally locally sourced pigments, with great respect for nature itself. To learn more about our sourcing process, click here.

Displaying your Earth Painting
When deciding where to display your Earth Painting: seek the light. The natural pigments respond beautifully to shifting light conditions. Morning light offers a crisp, soft glow; evening light brings out the warmth and depth of the pigments. You may therefore notice that the Earth Painting appears in a different 'colour'. Take your time to find a place where you can observe the interplay of light and shadow on the Earth Painting — a place where its textures and colours don’t fall flat.