Jose • 16 • Dublin
16-18 Category • 2026Nature’s First Embrace Nature’s First Embrace explores motherhood as the first and most universal expression of nature. This work was created to challenge the idea that humans exist apart from nature, and instead to affirm that we are born from it, held by it, and shaped by it from our very first breath. At its heart, this piece is about love, protection, and gratitude. The left panel depicts a human mother holding her newborn moments after birth. The hospital setting emphasizes vulnerability, yet within it exists deep warmth and safety. The mother’s body curves protectively around her child, forming the first shelter a human ever knows. This moment reflects Isaiah 66:13, “As a mother comforts her child, so will I comfort you,” and Isaiah 49:15, “Can a mother forget the baby at her breast? … I will not forget you.” These verses echo the truth that a mother’s love begins at the first second of life and endures forever. The right panel shows a leopard guarding her cub. Her gaze is alert and unwavering, embodying instinctive strength and constant watchfulness. Guided by Psalm 121:4, “He who watches over you will neither slumber nor sleep,” and Hosea 13:7–8, the leopard represents protection born from devotion, where strength exists to preserve life. Placed side by side, the two images reveal the same posture, closeness, and intent. Human and animal motherhood mirror one another, breaking the false separation between humanity and the natural world. Motherhood is shown as nature’s first system of survival, quiet, powerful, and sacred. This work is also a sincere expression of gratitude. It honors my mum and all mothers, human and animal, whose love often goes unseen yet forms the foundation of life itself. Nature’s First Embrace celebrates the warmth, strength, and protection that hold us at the beginning and remain with us always.
