For Every Poppy's Petal, A Story of Remembrance

As October draws to a close and the air becomes crisp with the fullness of autumn, my memories draw me back to a familiar place. For thousands of men and women worldwide, November brings with it a day of great honour - one that has touched the hearts of so many for nearly a century. On Remembrance Day, we call to mind the tragedies of war, the sacrifices of the brave, and the ways we can bring about a more peaceful planet.

Since 1919, the Commonwealth of Nations, France, Belgium, the United States, and other countries have observed Remembrance Day on 11 November. It is a time to reflect, to show appreciation to those who have served and pay tribute to all souls lost in conflict. In 1915, Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae penned his famous ode "In Flanders Fields" after witnessing the way red poppy blossoms spread through the trampled chaos of the battlefield during the Great War. Within years, this poem became the most famous of its day, and from country to country the poppy was recognized as a symbol of remembrance.

The poppy's roots wound themselves into the lives of many families, including my own. When the Second World War tore through my country, I watched as relatives, friends, and neighbors were swept off in its destruction. The flowers left in graveyards were among the few bright things left in its wake, and as a child, I looked after the delicate blooms I found there. I wished to preserve some beauty in a time of tragedy.

By 1956, the war's shockwaves still shook much of the earth. I had left Croatia and moved to New Zealand in order to start a new life and a family with my husband. The meaning of the poppy had only grown stronger with the passing of years, and before long, I joined the wives and mothers who crafted commemorative flowers for the benefit of The Royal British Legion.

When we first began to make these simple tokens of remembrance, they were constructed from red and green crepe paper. The poppies were beautiful but fragile, and patrons would need to purchase a new flower each year. As our efforts gained support, we were able to craft the poppies from a more durable cloth, and our little blooms could be displayed proudly year after year. I remember seeing men pin our cloth poppies to their lapels and felt my heart swell - with them, they carried both their memories of those lost and mine.

Ana Tzarev's Love poppy, installed in October at Canary Wharf.

For years, I made poppies to benefit servicemen, selling them to our church's congregation and at parent-teacher galas at our children's school. As our town filled with more and more of the bright remembrance blooms, it was clear how far their message reached and how many lives they touched. Our community, like so many others, united to support those who survived the war and the families of those who never made it home.

To this day, I believe the Royal British Legion's legacy of providing necessary care to veterans and their families makes them one of the finest and most worthwhile charities. On Remembrance Day and always, I feel blessed that the first poppies I created - long before my life as an artist - were made in their good name.

Thoughts on the Venice Biennale

"When Viewing Art, be ready to participate, to be moved and inspired by the uniqueness of the message as it pertains to you."

The Venice Biennale has been the pinnacle of the art world since it was first held in 1895. Every two years, creators of all sorts from the vast and varied nations of the world come together to showcase their work. It is a celebration unparalleled, a gala for contemporary artists, appreciators, and tastemakers to converge - over 300,000 people have gathered for the festivities in a single year. In recent years, it has even grown to encompass other realms of culture, including theatre, dance, music, architecture, and cinema - enabling a greater dialogue across the divides of genre and style.

If ever we need evidence that contemporary art is alive and well, the Biennale provides it for us. The number of participating artists and countries grows per year, a flourishing of creative energy continuously gaining momentum. So great is its power that it cannot be contained, with unofficial satellite exhibitions appearing around Venice, and other biennales emerging in Istanbul, Havana, Berlin, Shanghai, and a number of other cities around the globe.

Looking deep into the event's history, so many of the art world's most remarkable names appear as featured participants. The Biennale is the intersection of history and modernity, tradition and the cutting edge - the center of life for the art of the present day.

Jeff Koons's Balloon Dog on display at the 2011 Venice Biennale. [image source]

This past year, I was thrilled to open an exhibition in tandem with the Venice Biennale. The gorgeous Museo Diocesano di Venezia became home for Love & Peace, a finely curated selection of my flower paintings and sculptures. I felt so blessed to know that my works could bloom in the eyes of the Biennale's visitors, finding their place within the venerated city.

I felt my heart beat in time with scores of others who have devoted their lives to beauty and pursuit of creation. The far stretches of the world folded and, together, we offered up our greatest achievements for the enjoyment of all mankind. The Biennale highlights the genius that is the inheritance of every nation of the world - and the power to unite those nations through the unceasing magnificence of art.

Ana Tzarev's Love & Peace is on display at through November 24. To learn more about the Love & Peace Campaign, visit www.lovepeaceflower.com.

Give the Arts an International Day of Honour

Can art save the world and pave the way for peace?

Looking far into the history of man, it is apparent that the epochs of each civilization are marked by one common trait: a great flourishing of the arts.

In as many varied and beautiful forms as the mind can imagine, those who came before us elevated themselves and their people through bountiful creative expression. At last, existence meant so much more than survival! From Egypt's pyramids and wall paintings to Greece's incredible epics, from India's stirring songs to Japan's incomparable theatre, we find achievements that have inspired for centuries. Between renaissance and revolution, the tides of social unrest and stability produced the paintings, songs, operas, and poems we have come to view as time's greatest treasures.

Botticelli's universally-renowned Birth of Venus.

The tradition continues into this day. Across the globe, visual artists, dancers, composers, and authors crystallize the present, preserving it so that future generations may learn of our struggles and triumphs. Artists are mankind's most effective historians, storytellers, and communicators. Through their work, life takes shape and develops meaning that is instantly grasped - their gift is tremendous, capable of giving more and reaching further than can be fathomed.

For the past year, my life and my work have been dedicated to the belief that genuine positive change can manifest through art. I have observed the transcendent power of creativity; I have witnessed the ways it touches people from all walks of life. Art is the one true universal language, understood instantly by the mind and the heart. My Love & Peace Campaign focuses on unifying the nations of the world through the common experience of interaction with public art, and as I have brought my monumental flower sculptures to locations across the globe, the resonant power of beauty to create harmony has left me astounded.

A sample of visitor-contributed 'photo stories' from Ana Tzarev's Love & Peace web site.

But this goal of establishing harmony through art cannot be achieved in isolation. For progress to be won, artists who work for change must come to be recognized and supported by the leaders of the world. I implore Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon and the members of the UN to consider instating an International Day of Arts, so that we may celebrate the diversity of genius possessed in each nation of our shared world - a world that yearns to be healed.

Across the vast divide of differences that set all people apart, there exists within artistic expression the thread that can bind us together. Let art and its creators receive the honour they deserve and engender the change we need, so that the beauty that defines every unique culture also will become the force that fosters peace among them.

The Call for Peace Rings Out Worldwide

Ana's Thought: "Artist, make all your life's work come to harvest time in total Love & Peace."

On 21 September, people across the world found reason to celebrate, united by common cause: The International Day of Peace. All nations of the Earth lit up with goodwill, hearts burning like beacons of hope for a safer, freer world to be shared.

As an artist, my aim is to bring a peaceful world into being through creativity and communication. I was overjoyed to witness and take part in the tremendous spread of love on this day. The Love & Peace Campaign, my ongoing sculptural project carrying art into public spaces around the globe, has provided me with strong evidence that the sentiment of the International Day of Peace shall never fall on deaf ears -- the cry for peace grows louder each day!

Children in Shenzhen gather around one of Tzarev's Love & Peace flowers.

As the Campaign has made stops in locales the world over -- from Prague to Shenzhen, from New York to Singapore -- I have seen how great the demand for Love & Peace has become. In each place where the giant, shimmering remembrance poppies are displayed, people pause to reflect, document, and share. We all wish to be part of the greater good, and each small gesture we make is an invaluable contribution to growing progress. I thank all who have visited these sculptures as they continue their global tour and wish that the message of Love & Peace travels with them forever.

We are never in want for inspirational figures in our efforts to reach a world where Love & Peace reign. Among the greatest and most respected names in history are those who shone from within, upturning currents of violence with offerings of justice and grace. We look to Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther King, Jr., Nelson Mandela, and countless other brave, priceless souls who elevated the spirit of all mankind.

Ana Tzarev and Ringo Starr stand together for peace.

But our bright stars do not only illuminate the past -- there are so many among us who, through their actions and words, guide us along the path of peace today. Malala Yousafzai, after overcoming such horrible violence, has dedicated herself to a life of activism. Aung San Suu Kyi's indomitable dedication has made her a luminary not only for the people of Burma, but for all who champion freedom.

We must always keep in mind that the potential for all great beauty is encased within a seed in our souls. With diligence, patience, and empathy, the seed will germinate and bloom into a gift for our fellow men. Each of us is capable of magnificence beyond our imagination -- what will your gift be?

Creativity as a Salve for the Mind and Heart

Ana's Thought: "Good Art warms you on a cold, sad day and gives you company when you are lonely."

In this life, it is destined that even the most serene and inspired soul will be tested, as is the way of human existence - for without shadow, we cannot come to appreciate light. When dark clouds gather above, we steel ourselves against the storm and resolve to get through. In life's trying moments, art transforms from pastime or profession to devoted confidante. Creativity has been the life preserver for many great men of our time.

Georgia O'Keeffe beside her canvas and her inspiration; detail from Red Canna.

Georgia O'Keeffe, an artist of superb skill and a spirited, independent woman, was not immune to such struggles. Like the long shadows cast by clouds in the desert sky she loved, there were times when darkness passed over her. Periods of illness and a tumultuous relationship with her husband shaded her vibrant vision. But when depression threatened Georgia, she turned to her art for salvation. She created for herself a world of purest hue and fluid freedom. This world is offered to us in the exquisite paintings she left behind.

Art is not a healing practice reserved for those who make their career from it - bringing ideas to life through creation has the power to lift any soul! The indomitable Winston Churchill was, at times, plagued by what he called 'the black dog of depression.' He, too, found the relief he needed in art.

At the age of forty, Churchill first picked up a palette and found sanctuary within canvas. Over the course of his life, Churchill gave the world 500 magnificent still-life scenes and landscapes. His gift lay quietly within while he went about changing history, and surfaced to show him the path to respite and quiet meditation - an escape from the tension of his public life.

When life's burdens weigh too heavily on my shoulders, I have found that the creation of art frees me from my struggle. In the focused tranquility of painting and sculpting, my mind cannot wander to worries. May you also find light to fill your days in the passions that mark your life - what you love will be the fire that fuels you through all trials.

A Glimpse Into an Artist's Life

Ana's Thought: "Millions find fulfillment in Art."

Detail from Ana Tzarev's Early Sunrise.

Curious-hearted artists of this generation are really lucky. In the past, those who wished to receive guidance in their craft needed to travel to the great cities for art, in the hope that masters would deign to instruct them. Creative communities were built, but many aspiring artists had to abandon the lives they knew to 'come into the fold'. Those who worked independently were often dealt the hand of isolation as they toiled to attain excellence.

Today, artists may have their cake and eat it, too. Though the importance of community to fledgling creative souls must never be devalued, we are now afforded the ability to grow and strengthen our work through the support of an international network. When distance threatens to divide, technology stitches up the gaps between us.

As an artist, I have been delighted to see that many like-minded creators have turned to social media to ask for my opinion on their work. Even more have submitted questions, seeking clarity about my creative process. In my life, I do not have any secrets to keep - the knowledge and experience I possess should be shared, so that others may carry it with them.

In this blog, I will address three questions recently sent to me through my Facebook page. I hope that my followers, readers, and hopeful creators will enjoy this glimpse into an artist's unique life.

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When you look at a blank canvas, what do you think to create?

My ideas are born within my imagination's studio long before I set them to canvas. When the vision in my mind appears, I work out its details before a single daub of paint falls. I then select the canvas onto which I will transcribe my dream. For example, when I am moved to depict the gorgeous cherry blossoms that gift us with their fragrance in spring, I focus on the texture of their bark, the lightness of their petals, until I can feel within me the movements that will bring them to life. I then imagine their scale and find the suitable canvas to house them. Within my studio, I keep no fewer than 100 canvases to meet any need I have.

Detail from Ana Tzarev's Sky of Rose Diamonds.

To translate my vision into images, I create a rough sketch of what I see with charcoal. Gradually, I build the shapes and textures in layers and layers of paint. I squeeze pigment straight from the tube, blend with my fingers, and shape with brushes. To reflect the picture in my mind, each piece needs its own special combination of techniques.

How long does it take for you to create a painting?

The gestation period of a creative concept - the time between the mind's conception and the birth of a completed piece - varies greatly. There are three primary factors that affect this process in my work: the size of the piece, the importance of it (to me or to others), and how strong the flow of inspiration is within me.

If I am creating works as part of a series, the process is swift - each canvas runs fluidly into the next as the piece is completed. With individual paintings, all of my focus is reserved for the canvas before me, and the process of creation takes longer.

The nature of this development differs from artist to artist. Some may feel the movement and energy igniting their idea and simply must see it through! Others may spend years letting the idea formulate within them before they move to make their work - and may take years of coming and going to bring it into being.

Detail from Ana Tzarev's Blue Diamond.

What brand of paint do you use?

There are three brands of paint that I prefer above all others. Rembrandt creates a fantastic line of materials, and the brand is nearly always my top choice. I also favor Windsor & Newton and Sennelier, which are equally high quality paints. What brand I choose for a piece depends on its unique nature - and each kind offers different qualities of texture and hue within the colour spectrum.

Art Journalism Builds the Bridge Between the Creator and His Viewer

Ana's Thought: "Art is an Inspired Communicator with Imagination - it conveys its message with surprise and delight to the viewer."

Art, like all things in life, is not produced within a vacuum. No matter how strong a creator's vision, there are factors that will influence the style, colour, and content of his work.

As artists, we are mirrors of the reality that we perceive. The process of creation and reflection takes a fascinating turn when it is joined by analysis, placing art in broader context. For this reason, I feel that the role of the art journalist must be given due praise.

The rise of the Internet has granted aspiring writers with great opportunity to take to the front lines of the ever-shifting art world. It may take little more than one burst of inspiration to have the global community take notice! There are so many fine art blogs and columns available to the curious reader - from the New York Times' fantastic ArtsBeat to the Financial Times' well-curated Arts page and countless others in between. Twitter holds hidden gems for those who seek them out; sharp minds and critical eyes give offer their thoughts about current happenings in art in 140 characters or less. We live in an age of unprecedented exchange, from idea to idea - we have before us an incredible opportunity to learn.

The art journalist is a bridge builder, spanning the divide between creator and appreciator. Over the course of my career - and increasingly in recent years - I have been fortunate to find that people around the world wish to learn what drives me to create. After seeing my emotions projected onto canvas and turned to images, they want to hear my story in my own words. It is a tale I am always happy to share!

Each interviewer casts light on a different angle of the story: in Monaco's Riviera Times, the right question illuminated my deeply personal connection with the beautiful principality. Singapore's Ageless Online aimed to reach older art appreciators, asking me to give insight into the foundations of a successful career in later life. The Czech magazine Beauty & Woman provided readers with my unique definition of home, and how my art makes my home. In Mandarin, Turkish, Cyrillic, and Italian, my thoughts and experiences are given to those who wonder!

Whether or not others take a moment to glance at my art, I would still go on creating. But to know for certain that there are those who see what I have made and wish to learn more sets my will alight. Within their interest I find new impetus to create - and I hope, in turn, my work brings a spark to their lives.