The Story of the Lungs 

A Journey of Rediscovering Breath, Healing, and Empowerment

This collection, "The Story of the Lungs," was born out of an unexpected encounter with a woman named Camila. Her arrival into my life was both quiet and profound, like a gentle wind that stirs the deepest waters. We exchanged stories—some spoken, some felt in the silence that hung between us—and in that exchange, I began to rediscover something I hadn’t realised I had lost: myself.

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For years, I had been walking in circles, consumed by masculine energy—always doing, always providing, always moving for the sake of others. My lungs had been full, but not with air. They were full of the heaviness of expectation, the weight of responsibility that wasn’t mine to carry. I didn’t even realise it until Camila arrived, her presence offering a mirror to my own journey. She didn’t say much, but she didn’t have to. I felt her strength, her grace, her quiet defiance against a world that tries to contain women like us. And in her strength, I saw my own.

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Inhale. That’s where this journey began—learning how to breathe again, for myself this time. Learning how to clear the clutter of my mind, the chaos of thoughts that had built up over time, clouding my vision and my heart. The first painting, "Inhale," is not just a release; it’s a realisation—a moment when I recognised the weight I had been carrying and finally allowed myself to breathe freely. It was painful at first, that breath. It meant facing the thoughts I had been avoiding, the truths I had been denying.

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Beneath the Surface came next. It’s easy to think that what you see on the surface is all there is, but beneath the water, there’s a whole other world. Like the creatures hidden in this painting—part lion, part sea horse, part mythical being—there were parts of me I had buried, forgotten. These parts were waiting for me to acknowledge them, to invite them back into my life. I realised that just like an octopus can regrow its limbs, I had the power to heal the parts of me that had been broken, the parts that had been sacrificed for others. It wasn’t easy, but as I painted, I began to feel those pieces of me come alive again.

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Awakening wasn’t a sudden, magical moment. It was a slow, deliberate walk into a new version of myself. It was the realisation that everything I needed to be whole was already within me. As I painted the figure walking into its new self, I felt my own transformation unfolding with each stroke. The chaos was still there, but it was no longer overwhelming. It was a part of the journey, a part of the story I was ready to own. I was walking forward, but not away from anything—rather, I was walking toward myself.

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And finally, Exhale. The exhale is where grace and power collide. As I painted the figure riding forward on a horse-like creature, wearing a wide-brimmed hat that shielded their face, I felt an overwhelming sense of release. This wasn’t just a release from the past, but a release of the fear that had held me captive for so long. The figure rides forward, not in haste but with quiet confidence, knowing that they have everything they need within them. They carry their story, their strength, and their grace in every movement.

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I think that’s what this collection is about, ultimately: it’s about the breath. The breath we take when we realise we’ve been holding on for too long. The breath we take when we’re ready to dive beneath the surface and face the parts of ourselves we’ve hidden away. The breath we take when we step into our power and own our story, no matter how messy or complicated it may be. And finally, the exhale—the moment when we release it all and move forward with grace, knowing we are enough just as we are.

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Camila’s visit was a catalyst for this journey, but the real work was mine to do. Through these paintings, I found myself again. And I hope that, as you move through this collection, you’ll find a piece of yourself too. Maybe you’ll recognise the weight of a breath you’ve been holding. Maybe you’ll find the courage to dive beneath the surface. Maybe you’ll awaken to the magic that’s been inside you all along. And maybe, just maybe, you’ll find the grace to let go and move forward, knowing you’ve arrived exactly where you need to be.

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THE POEM

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camila.

walking in circles 

far too long 

with my door closed 

didn’t even know

i was living 

in masculine energy 

swallowing me up 

providing for everyone 

but myself 

me-

that has come 

to the end 

with two feet on the floor 

i walk 

with bucket full of toys 

on my own 

stronger than ever before 

one dropped to the pool 

octopus-

blended in 

it took me a minute to find it 

and as octopus 

can regrow lost limbs 

i discovered 

i can transform 

and heal 

so by this pool 

with stories told 

i know we are one 

we are whole 

new stories unfold 

and all you need to know 

is that 

all along 

magic was in you

awaken. 

camila.- Lola Lis