Video - Paintmaking with Cherry Tree Gum - local, natural and eco-friendly art, rooted in traditional Northern-European craftsmanship

''The Year of the Cherry' is a visual journey into the intersection of art, science, and sustainability. For centuries, artists have envisioned paradise - through for example lush gardens, intricate mandalas, and celestial geometries—seeking to capture an ideal world. Yet, the reality is far from utopian. The Industrial Revolution, with the introduction of toxic heavy-metal based pigments and other unsustainable practices, contributed to tainting the very materials used to depict these visions, creating a paradox where art, meant to celebrate nature, contributes to its destruction. Determined to bridge this disconnect, I embarked on a doctoral research journey at the King's Foundation: School of Traditional Arts, blending my background in the Natural Sciences with ancient cultural wisdom. Exploring pre-modern European, Asian and Islamic techniques, I seek to revive sustainable practices that honor both cultural heritage and environmental responsibility. This film traces my path towards a more mindful artistic practice, one that brings Paradise into the here and now, by reconnecting with the natural world. Through the discovery of local (traditional) materials—including cherry gum, honey and rose water as a sustainable binder for paintmaking—my surroundings transformed into a living source of artistic inspiration. Marking this realization, I call 2024 The Year of the Cherry, as a tribute to the beauty and wisdom found in nature when we learn to honor and cherish its gifts.