Moved by the Mountains, Grounded by the Sea is a joyful interpretation of the quiet takeaways the artist has gathered from being in conversation with the natural world. After time spent together, the mountains became a teacher, the ocean is a friend, the trees have something to say.

Sensory collections of whispered wisdom translated into paintings, these artworks are remnants of scenes as she feels and remembers them – which is often a bright and optimistic take. The title is a line from a secret poem written on a balmy afternoon ocean swim: a contemplation on the way the natural world becomes a mirror to understanding internal emotional landscapes, if we take some time to allow it.

Each painting is a process of discovery, guided by intuition. Ika aims to retain the energy of the original line sketch as much as possible – what energy is lost in the translation to canvas is rebuilt with colour and texture. In this way the painting process is also an energy exchange between internal and external worlds – from outside to inside to outside again.