I was inspired by this intense impression I had of a garden, filled with beauty and light, that fostered a sense of connection and spiritual hope whenever the image came to mind. I had just recently lost a beloved family member, and soon after that loss, kept on seeing this image in my mind. It brought me so much peace, and I felt I had to bring it to life and that it was a message that needed to be expressed. I did not necessarily know what the message was, but I now believe its meaning will be personal to every viewer, as I hope is true for all my work. As the painting developed, it was as if this garden kept coming more and more to life in my mind, and I started to see more detailed imagery of the scene, and even myself walking through it, which is when I added in the figures to the painting. Gustav Klimt, and his use of various materials and particularly gold leaf has always been an inspiration to me, and I especially love his work because of how the patterns and gold leaf fit into my personal history, Indian culture and narrative and so I was inspired to incorporate gold leaf into this piece. Having synesthesia, often times things do not show up in my mind “accurately” in that grass can appear purple and then change into orange; I wanted for that experience to translate into this piece, and so I painted it entirely how I experienced it in my mind- with everything golden, and with blue highlights, a golden dream. To elevate the experience, I also embroidered directly onto the canvas, and did beadwork as well, to tie my culture more fully into the work. This work truly is at the intersection of all of the things that have made me who I am; a symphony of my personal story, and represents what I hope to embody in all the work I create.