A Note from the Artist...

I created and captured this photo to give a sense of isolation. I then edited it in a painterly style to make it look more like a painting than a photograph for something different. I love the innocence that it portrays. She has no knowledge of the immense injustice that exists in the world today.

There were a number of social injustices I could have applied to this image. The widespread issues of poverty or homelessness which are sadly too well known in our country. All these issues cause feelings of loneliness and isolation. Yet while I was researching some of the greatest injustices in our world in 2021, it highlighted issues that life in Australia doesn’t really give us reason to think about.

While millions of people worldwide are ecstatic when they hear the words “it’s a girl”, in other parts of the world it is not the same. In fact these very words can be one of the most dangerous words a parent can hear. The simple fact “it’s a girl” shapes their entire lives from the moment they are born and in many cases puts their young lives in fear and jeopardy.

 

Some astounding worldwide facts;
- 60 million girls around the world are denied an education
- 33,000 girls become child brides every day
- Women and girls spend nearly 200 million hours a day walking for water
- 200 million girls have been killed because of gendercide.
- 70% of all trafficking victims are women and girls.

 

The world seems riddled with injustice. How do we even begin as christians to help people, suffering on the other side of the world from such injustices. Injustices that seem larger than life. If we are called to promote justice and told that He requires us to act justly, we cannot sit idly by while injustice is filling our world on such a scale.

 

To continually strive to find ways to show kindness, to defend the vulnerable, so they do not feel that desperate isolation. Jesus’s work is always motivated by the love for others and we can all use that as our motivation. To choose love and consider how to care for those who are hurting, by putting our love into action.

 

EPHESIANS 2:10
For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

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About the Artwork...

Photography

NIKON D800
Nikon 70-200mm f/4G
ISO 200 1/250 sec f/4.5

About the Artist...

Michelle Townend

Camberwell, Melbourne, VIC