In February 2019, I returned to Madeira. This time, for nearly two months.
Several years had passed since my first trip to the island. Much had changed in that time, but one thing remained the same — I wanted to come back. Madeira had become a special place for me. Here, it's easy to work, easy to rest, and easy to be alone with myself.
During one of my walks through Funchal, I happened upon an art space that combined several galleries. I started talking with the manager, told her about myself, showed her my work and my creative journey. Unexpectedly, the conversation ended with an offer to hold a solo exhibition.
And so, my exhibition "Moments of the Island" came to be in Madeira.
It took place at Restock Galeria in Funchal. The exhibition featured works created on the island up to that point. There were only about eight of them, but what mattered to me was the very fact that it was happening.
Of course, the exhibition was only part of this trip. Over two months, I traveled extensively around the island, returning to favorite places and discovering new ones.
We walked through Funchal, visited Santana with its famous triangular houses, and stopped in the fishing village of Câmara de Lobos. I hiked along levadas, explored the island's walking trails, and came to understand more and more why Madeira is called a paradise for hiking lovers.
One place that stood out was the Fanal Forest. An ancient laurel forest where centuries-old trees are often shrouded in dense mist. And when the sun breaks through the clouds, the forest transforms — soft light falls on the twisted trunks, and the landscape becomes almost fairytale-like.
The Monte Tropical Garden made no less of an impression. You could spend hours there and not notice the time passing. I also loved stopping at the lighthouses scattered across the island, gazing at the ocean — which on Madeira always remains the main character of any landscape.
What I remember most was a hotel with a swimming pool. Later, it became the basis for one of my paintings.
During this trip, my friends and I took a day trip to the neighboring island of Porto Santo. After the lush, green vegetation of Madeira, it felt almost deserted. The long sandy beach, open spaces, sparse buildings, and a sense of stillness created a completely different mood.
There are countries you want to see once. And there are places you're drawn to again and again — where it just feels good to be.
I will return... again...
