Journey, 2025 by Dafne Berg

36 x 36 in. Collage made with acrylics, watercolors, india ink and paper on canvas.
 
Journey is a mixed media collage that reflects the personal and emotional transformation I experienced following a devastating knee injury that left the future of my mobility uncertain. This piece captures the path I walked, both physically and emotionally, from fear and grief to resilience and renewed hope.
The composition is entirely symbolic. Fragmented blue flowers represent early moments of pain, fragility, and uncertainty. As the eye moves across the canvas, those pieces evolve into bold, vibrant blooms surrounded by gold, signifying healing, growth, and the emergence of strength from struggle. Every element in the painting holds meaning, speaking to the idea that beauty can emerge from hardship.
Created using acrylics, watercolor, India ink, and paper on canvas, the work blends texture and color through a layered, collage technique. Its tactile quality mirrors the layers of the experience itself. It is messy, nonlinear, but ultimately transformative.