Once the Jacarandas Fall by Jolina Chen

My artwork, ‘Once the Jacarandas Fall,’ is my first self-portrait and aims to inspire others, especially students, to find solace and beauty in the world around them during stressful times. Growing up in Brisbane, I have always been captivated by the vibrant jacaranda flowers around the city. Often associated with good fortune and prosperity, these blossoms appear as the school year ends, symbolising hope and new beginnings.
At my school, a jacaranda tree blooms right before external exams, infusing the surroundings with its stunning purple hues and offering solace to the Year 12 students amidst their exam pressures.

In this piece, I’ve filled the page with jacarandas, each petal a testament to hope. Amidst this floral tapestry, I depict myself holding a bouquet, symbolising the embrace of change, hope, and fresh starts. Once these flowers, which have accompanied me since childhood, “fall” for me as I near the end of my school life, I hope that they will bring both myself and those around me hope and courage for the future.