Nostalgia by Charlene Chen

‘Nostalgia’ conveys the carefree innocence of childhood. As children, we find pleasure in the simplest things. Kids don’t need fancy things to be happy; they can have the time of their lives with a stick or a puddle, a world completely different to that of students and adults. It makes you wonder: where has all the time gone?

Adeline, my five-year-old sister, moved to Brisbane as a baby. Brisbane is home to her fondest memories and biggest achievements, like her first day of prep and the Ekka, which make up a very special part of her childhood.

The portrait uses warmer tones for Adeline and cooler blue tones for the background, a metaphor for sunshine against a clear sky, where the joy of the child shines through. The blue background represents the simple peace that children find in their lives.

The artwork makes you long for the days when all you needed was your imagination to have fun, and serves as a reminder to never forget and always treasure the precious memories of our childhood.