Mixed Medium ( 15cm x 32cm x 4cm )
By Dreama McFadyen
I am the rose of Sharon. (Song of Solomon 2:1)
King Solomon wrote the most profound and romantic poetry of love between the bride and the bridegroom. The love is so tangible and thick. This kind of love sustains me and feeds me from my inner being and my experiences.
Sharon in Hebrew is originally referred to the plain and fertile area in Israel. Sharon was a very fruitful place, and famous for roses. “ I am the rose of Sharon” states the awakened love of the bride, and the gentle and unconditional love from the bridegroom which make her begin to realize the deeper dimension of who she is, and she begins to recognize she is special, significant and beautiful like the rose.
Personally, I love flowers very much; especially roses, and the white roses are my favourite ones because white represents purity and distinctive love. Once I dreamed of making paper roses in bed, I started to practise what I did in my dream when I woke up. From this dream on, I extended and designed the paper roses in different colours and sizes as decorative jewelleries, such as a brooch, necklace, earrings and so on. The paper roses carry on my dreams and my passion!
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you, and through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, nor shall the flame scorch you. (Isaiah 43:2)
About 700 B.C, the Israelite prophet Isaiah proclaimed the protection, redemption and unfailing love of the Messiah during the stormy expansion of the Assyrian empire. Thousands years later in this contemporary world, my hope and my faith is also relying on the same source of Love.
“ I will be with you “ is the great promise that sustains my faith and gives me strength to face the difficulties in life; especially as I am a new migrant in New Zealand facing the culture shock and a period of adjustment. The waters and the fire are expressive of all kinds of trouble, uncertainty, temptations, afflictions, distress and problems we may face in our daily life. Nevertheless, by the vibrant love of God, I can be comforted and revived.
What’s more, those life-time experiences are turned to my advantage, to sanctify me, I am taught and instructed through afflictions, like making the gold and silver in the fire, the dross will be consumed, and I will be raised up and brought out by the grace of love.
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