Meeting my Mother in Marrakech
I BURST INTO TEARS the moment I saw this painting.
It was 2003, my first trip to Morocco. I was 22 years old and 8 years had already passed since my mother’s death from stomach cancer. I hadn’t stopped to give her much thought during the previous 3 years as I travelled Europe, the Caribbean and the Middle East.
And here I was standing in a dusty art gallery, somewhere in the labyrinth of Marrakech medina and I immediately felt that it was my MOTHER gazing back at me.
It became the first piece of art I ever bought – Actually it ended up being a gift because the man in the shop couldn’t bear to see me so emotional, balling my eyes out over it.
I couldn’t wait to hang this painting in my room. I was totally mesmerised by the subject and colour pallette.
The first few nights were a bit eerie because I could see her eyes glowing in the dark, clearly staring at me even after turning the lights out to go to sleep.
After settling in, I began to appreciate the daily reminder of my mother, Lynne in her new exotic appearance. I felt she was watching over me as I began my new role in North Africa.
Never imagined I’d still be here 17 years later, married with 2 kids of my own. Time has flown and this painting now hangs in one of the bedrooms in my guest house, RIAD DAR HAVEN.
