As part of the celebration of Women’s Month this March, I am featuring women whom I have met and who have wonderful stories to share.

The first in this series is Ma. Lovelie Albarracin, a visual artist working in a clothing department in Paris and a freelance artist. She is the Concept Creator of “One Apple One Love” and Conceptual art of “The Life of Adam and Eve.”

I first met Lovelie when I visited the Kwadro Pintura Gallery, Village Suisse, in the 15th arrondissement of Paris in 2021. She was soft spoken but I felt right away that she’s a genuine and sincere person, a quiet artist.

When did you come to Paris? I went to Paris in March 1998. My parents influenced me to come here because some of my relatives have been here for a long time. They encouraged me to come to Paris to have an adventure and pursue my goal and to have a better future.

Did you already know years ago that you wanted to be a visual artist? No, I never saw that, but I have always had this gut feeling na everytime I’m alone, I want to do something, I mean some activities like that. Then one day, because I’m working in a supermache here in Paris, there was one costumer that I mistakenly thought to be a thief because he always came to the store twice a week. I was curious about him. Then one day, I asked him when he passed at my caisse because I was a cashier. I asked him to show the contents of his plastic bag. He was very polite that time; he showed what’s inside the plastic bag and it’s like figurine of hands, many things. He said that he is a professor of Portrait in Neuilly sur Seine. After that, we spoke about everything and he became my professor of portrait for three (3) years. And my journey towards becoming a visual artist began that time.

My first day in portrait school I drew drawings 1 (side view) and 2 (front view). We had a model. A week after I drew drawing 3.

I have a strong determination that..I can do this.

What are your usual inspirations for creating art? The people I have met along the way. From that, I created through my thoughts and my emotions … and my love. To spread love to everyone.. To my family, friends, and to all the people i’ve met. I created this painting because of The power of love …because of EVE and The Apple.

What message do you like to convey in your paintings? I made this painting in 2019. Title: “Eve” (2019). In 2023, I painted “The Guardian.” This painting serves as the inspiration for the Insects. I called it “The Guardian,” the guardian of the forest and all Living Nature, most especially the small creatures like insects. These creatures have a big role to our nature like trees, plants, flowers, fruits and vegetables. Without insects, our lives would be vastly different. We would not have much of the produce that we enjoy and rely on without the pollinating services of insects, not to mention honey, beeswax, silk, and other useful products that insects provide. In these paintings there are seven important insects and know their importance. My message is extend your love to small creatures like insects.

“The wheel of Fortune” which I painted in 2022 is a very Inspiring story about the young girl who is thinking about her future, what happens next ? As you can see, she looks very far.

Another painting is “A Golden House” that I painted in 2021. It is made of bamboo and all we can see is all about Nature , rich in trees and plants and flowers. And it’s inside of a golden apple. My message is living a simple life is like “Gold as Treasure.”

Did you experience some challenges in being a woman towards reaching your goals in Paris? If yes, how did you overcome them? No, because I’m very courageous and determined in every challenge that I encounter in my life. It serves as a blessing for me because if there’s no challenge, life is boring . We have to be brave to face all the difficulties and trials in life.

How conducive is the art scene in Paris to aspiring artists? When my paintings were exhibited in different galleries here in Paris, esp. in Carrousel du Louvre, and I met new people and new connections, different artists from a different places. I felt so blessed because i never knew that it will happen to me. It’s really a blessing for me.

What is your advice to fellow Filipinos who would like to venture into arts? Do not be afraid to show their talents and let the people show their vision through their arts. Be confident that everyone of us has a Gift and continue to inspire people because of our natural gifts and Love within our Hearts.

This Women’s Month, what is your message to fellow women and to people in general? Be brave. Be humble and Let the world see whats inside in your heart–the Love and Inspiration. Mula sa maliit na pagaaral …lumalago iyon at maraming natutunan … at dun sa mga bagay na natutunan ibinabahagi ito upang maging inspirasyon sa sino man.

---

Thank you Ms. Lovelie for the interview. Here are some memorable photos, the 1st one in the Kwadro Pintura art gallery in Paris, and the second, when I joined her “one apple, one love” online campaign :