Original work by Anitta Jonas.
Towards the Light of Europe is about the people who leave their homes and set out towards Europe carrying the hope of safety, freedom and a better life. The figures move towards the light — a light that represents the promise of Europe and the belief that something better is waiting ahead.
Yet the journey towards that light is marked by danger, violence, loss and rejection. Some never reach Europe at all. Others survive the journey only to discover that arriving does not necessarily mean being welcomed, accepted or allowed to become part of the society they had hoped to find.
The contrast between the luminous centre and the dark, almost human forms surrounding it reflects this tension between hope and reality. The figures are deliberately undefined. They are not portraits of particular people, but representations of the many individuals who have made this journey, each carrying their own story, expectations and losses.
For me, the light in the painting is therefore both beautiful and unsettling. It is the light they are moving towards — but also the promise that may never become the life they imagined.