My practice is currently focused on memory, childhood, and the nuances of trauma. I am challenging myself to remember rooms I did not feel safe in; smells that make me miss something abstract; compositions that bring together both the joys and complications of my experiences growing up in Poland, then in Germany, then the UK.

I am indulging in simple illustrations, in imperfection, and in maximalism. What I hope to achieve with my final display is to bring the viewer into an experience of abundance and comfort, while simultaneously not ignoring the fact that comfort does not always come from a place of safety.

Kids are sponges; to grow up is to find yourself squeezing the sponge and realising that the water is dirty.

My work is about accepting that I am allowed to play in the dirty water, even now.

Instagram: @ninajayart