I consider this to be one of the most difficult paintings to bring to completion—not because of the technique or the drawing, but because of what it represented and the story I (did not) want to tell.

At first, it would be only in black and white, perhaps dark colors. The colors spoke of the mourning I felt when thinking about what it represented.

For months, the canvas remained drawn: the bridge, the child, and the woman. A cliff at the beginning.

This painting portrays the story of Maria, a young mother who left Venezuela in search of hope. Because of immense suffering and hardship, she decided to leave. Maria took her baby in her arms and, with all the pain of leaving behind her roots, set out in search of a better life. Maria, her baby, and other women walked long distances—through cold nights and hot days, with whatever food was available—until her baby began to fall ill in her arms. She could not go back. She had to keep going.

After a few days, when Maria was almost reaching her destination, the baby became gravely ill.

As she looked at the child in her arms, she realized the baby had died. At that moment, she was crossing a bridge. Maria could not bear the pain of losing her child and threw herself off the bridge along with the baby.

This story was told to me some time ago by João Diniz, Regional Director of World Vision, and it inhabited my soul, my heart, and my mind for many days and months. I needed to somehow release it through this painting.

Yet, I wanted to create a painting that spoke of hope—for other Marias. For so many Marias who are crossing bridges, enduring pain, on the Venezuelan border, or even here, in this difficult time we are living. A bridge that every Maria has the right to cross toward hope. A flowered bridge. A bridge of love. A bridge of welcome, where we are there together with Maria and her baby.

Despite the pain of producing this work, I finished it feeling lighter. Each flower is a tear and a prayer for the Marias of the world.

This painting will be transformed into a concrete action to bless the women of Pacaraima. Thinking about this brought me a small sense of comfort.

Silvana Bezerra de Castro Magalhães (Nova Friburgo/RJ)
Master’s and PhD in Education. Art therapist. University professor at CEFET-RJ, writer, and researcher.
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/silvanabezerramagalhaes/

Artwork presented in 2021 at the V Refugees Forum
Theme: “Church and Refugees – Paths to Tomorrow”