Dance of the Lemur

This work expresses the theme “Journey” using a scale that allows the spectator to almost “step in” and participate with the subject matter. My journey of “teenage hood” has been one of dramatic change, both physically and mentally. As an insecure pre-teen with bulky braces and a shiny face dotted with a constellation of pimples, adapting into a highly academic, all-girls school did not give me the boost of confidence that I needed to face the rest of high school. However, in 2008, I was lucky enough to visit the island of Madagascar where I had an awe-inspiring experience: meeting and playing with lemurs.
Lemurs are furry creatures, native to Madagascar, that have interesting personalities and features that make unlike any other animal. I have used watercolour and chalk pastel, food colouring, ink and charcoal to create figures that resemble me, as a lemur-like creature, dancing among the Makki (lemur) of Madagascar. The title of the creation, as well as the symbolic colours used, are a manifestation of my personal journey of “movement”: moving from the insecure teenager that I once was, to the more freethinking, confident individual that I have become inspired by my experiences with lemurs of Madagascar.