The obstacles we face can sometimes uncover something deeply hidden in us—positive defiance pushing us forward and encouraging us to find happiness in the little things.
This defiance was recently uncovered by thirteen-year-old Klara Palada, who has been painting intensively for over a year, searching for inspiration in religion and the endless beauties of the natural world. Faced with the loss of her father, Klara created a refuge in her paintings—a safe space where she can store her emotions, grief, and pain, without the need for words. The painting process is a therapeutic act tailored to Klara, and the inner peace it provides her is invaluable.
Despite the heaviness of emotions she experienced, Klara’s paintings burst with optimism found in the vibrant colors of her skies—a limitless space of hope brimming with possibilities. They mirror Klara herself, as, despite the challenges she’s encountered, she has shown that there are no limits for autistic people.
Throughout history, many renowned artists faced life’s difficulties with a brush in hand, channeling their inner world onto canvases we continue to admire decades later. Let’s take Mexican painter Frida Kahlo (1907.–1954. g.) and Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama (1929. g.) as an example. Kahlo transformed the physical and emotional pain she suffered after a serious bus accident into powerful self-portraits, while Kusama’s repetitive dot patterns reflected her psychological conditions and, at the same time, had a deeply therapeutic influence on the artist.
Klara’s art, like that of Frida Kahlo and Yayoi Kusama, testifies to the strength and resilience of her spirit, as well as her unwavering will to live.
All of the above demonstrates that anyone, regardless of their past experiences, can find deep comfort, strength, and motivation to overcome life’s challenges through the creative process.
Artist: Klara Palada
Curator: Lucija Ečim
Time: 13. 12. 2024.
Place: Villa Nika, Kaštel Stari, Croatia
