Elena Bushan
Calgary, Canada
Elena Bushan is a professional visual artist and art instructor living and working in Calgary, Alberta. Her interest in drawing and painting began in early childhood, and she was accepted into art school at age eight. Bushan had more than 15 years of art education in school, college and Academy of Fine Arts in her country of birth, Moldova, before moving abroad. Her painting style can best be described as imaginative realism, and she has a special passion for portrait and figurative painting. Her work has featured in shows in Canada and Europe and can be found in many private collections. Bushan was the recipient of the Canadian Immigrant of Distinction Award 2017 in Arts and Culture.
Mural Title
“Mother Nature”
Mural Statement
Living through a global pandemic, quarantine and lockdowns, businesses shut down were stressful times for many of us. The best way to relieve stress and anxiety for me was taking care of my mini indoor jungle, watching plants grow roots, new leaves unfurling, and enjoy beautiful blooms. It was healing. I’ve painted a self-portrait with wings on my back made out of my plants as almost like Mother Nature gives me wings and I can “fly and be free” doesn’t matter how stressful things get around me. I used this idea to paint my mural for the BUMP festival in August. The woman on the mural represents Mother Nature, she has huge wings behind her back made out of plants, and she talks to the birds sitting on her hands. She is surrounded by golden sunlight and it looks like she is almost glowing. I used vibrant colors and I wanted this mural to be healing and uplifting. Only if you look down on her arms you can see she is bleeding and melting. We all know nature has amazing healing powers but we have to stop destroying our Earth and try to keep it safe. I hope my mural would lift spirits and lighten up people’s mood.