"É preciso não ter medo de criar"

Speaking honestly, I am still trying to understand how this painting came to be and what it means. What I do understand is what making it meant to me: the freedom to create without pressure or urgency.

I made this work during a month-long residency at PRISMA in Lisbon. For that month, I did not have to worry about anything other than making art, exploring the city and connecting with my fellow residents, who are now friends. This freedom allowed me to create in a way I wish were always possible—from a place of playfulness and experimentation that can be so difficult to access in everyday life.

For this reason, I borrowed the title from an exhibition by Sonia Gomes, one of my favourite artists. Her approach to art-making remains a daily source of inspiration and a reminder to play, experiment and find joy in the process.