Sanctuary

Oil on canvas, 150 x 180 cm, 2025

Introduction

Awakening Within

In Sanctuary, we see a woman in the water, surrounded by what looks like a cave, but it is more than that. This space is her sanctuary, a place where she reconnects with who she truly is. No noise, no expectations. Only stillness and truth.

This painting speaks to the power of looking inward. It is a reminder that clarity often comes when we stop searching and simply allow ourselves to be.

The Melting Gold

Gold slips from her shoulder into the water, like a mask dissolving. What once covered her now fades away. She does not become someone new: she becomes herself again.

The Water

Water surrounds her as a symbol of cleansing and return. Across cultures, it marks the threshold between the outside world and the soul. In this scene, it holds space for remembering.

The Soul Revealed

There is something otherworldly about her presence, this is how Christiane chooses to represent the soul. The delicate golden threads on her head suggest both energy and connection. They symbolise her roots and her mind. In Christiane's vision, our skills, our self-awareness, and our thoughts are the most powerful tools we possess.