The Way of Courage and Inner Transformation

I met Marta Lamovsek in Dubai few years ago. In the glam landscape of Dubai, Marta is in some way disruptive. Her values transcend the material, opulence and elitism of this city. Yet, Dubai is not only about opulence, but also multiculturalism and direct connection with various art forms, hard to achieve some place else.

Marta lives near the beach, not even 2 km away from Burj Al Arab, in a "'1001 nights'' landscape. She greets you by the door, takes you by the hand and together with her you step into another dimension, full of mystery, aromas and textures, in a space where several apparent contradictions and elements that are not normally together, fit into place in harmony.

Here starts the inner journey, which, for everybody is different. But alongside with Marta, this journey is magical and everybody that goes trough that process lives a transformation that stays forever in the soul.

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Interview by Cornelia Rotaru, Editor-in-Chief, Photographs Marta Lamovsek's Archive

What does femininity mean to you? How do you express yourself as a woman?

It took me a long time to finally embrace my innate femininity. As a teenager, I was a tomboy

and struggled to fit in or relate to other women due to my upbringing... Something always felt missing until I one day, in my 40s, found myself in the forest in a spiritual circle of women in Brazil, where I shredded the untruth about my femininity. I cried my heart out, and the heavy guard that had been protecting me from perceived dangers melted away, healing my sense of unworthiness... My creative impulse ever since that time led me to transform my initial art project name into 'Sacred Queendom'.

Then, things really started to fall into place. You see, I had to embody it first; I had to undergo an inner transformation to truly own my own femininity.

My greatest expression as a woman lies in helping other women feel seen and my most

feminine act is my sacred service: assisting them into alchemy from who they think they are into multidimensional beings with their divine essence and powers - this is who they truly are. All women we have this expression within our DNA: my feminine expression is about creating REMEMBERING of how we used to gather, grow food, cook together, laugh, and adorn each other together. Sacred Queendom is within us all.

We ARE love. It’s the connection we have with our innermost divine self and with the Divine Source…

What do you think is our purpose in this life?

I love how Pablo Picasso articulated it: "The meaning of life is to find your gift. The purpose of life is to give it away." I believe each of us, with our unique Soul and DNA signature, is designed to somehow serve humanity in a way that only we can. The key is to know yourself first. It might take you half of life to get there, but life is also to experience all the spectrum of many adventures. There are countless ways to be of service: service to the Divine, to oneself, to friends and family, to the broader community, and to the world and all living beings. Our purpose is to discover our unique gifts and share them generously, enriching life on our Mother Earth with our contributions.

What is immortality to you and how it can be achieved?

T o me, one of the most influential examples of immortality in my life was Dame Vivienne Westwood, a prominent British fashion designer. She was - she still is an Icon, Activist, and a

Revolutionary Spirit. She passed away at 82 in 2022 and I often think that when you love

someone as much as I loved Vivienne Westwood, she never died. This is how you truly make a difference: by staying true to yourself and letting your inner five-year-old be proud of you.

What do you feel about the AI trend? Can AI be creative?

It can absolutely be creative! It’s not really difficult - they have all the material of the history of the world that artists had devoted all their lives in - creating with their blood, sweat and tears. We are already merged and transhumanism is around the corner. However, let us not be fooled that AI is better than us, that “enhancement” as transhumanists are promising is not coming with a price. The price is to lose your divinity. Upload your consciousness on the cloud in 2045 but our divinity and your soul is not gonna be there. The actual problem I see is that because most of humanity has not even explored their innermost selves and they are willing to give themselves to the computer. It’s insane to me.

Sometimes I laugh when people ask me, if I am afraid AI is taking my job? It is ridiculous

because no AI can’t replace my Spirit. They can copy my work, but not your Spirit - my art is so much deeper than a two dimensional photograph.

You said in an interview that you saw a man on the streets of dubai portrait photography that inspired you and guided you towards what you are and do today. What was that you saw and felt in that

man?

I still get goosebumps when I think about that moment. I “heard” a clear, yet silent voice: “This is what you are here to do. ” I would not be where I am today if I hadn't answered that whisper of my soul, that was a divine calling directed for me. I get chills thinking about how many people must be ignoring this whisper because it takes immense trust and courage to transcend all the cultural barriers, social conditioning, and personal stories to heed the voice of our Higher Self. This is the ultimate truth we must pay attention to.

I am blessed to have always been a "weirdo" who believed in mystical moments over

reasonable and conventional paths. One Muslim man, a simple gardener from Pakistan, literally changed the trajectory of my life and transformed everything I ever thought I knew about humanity and myself. He ignited my purpose, and it is him I thank for living my Dharma today.

Ultimately for me, life is about breaking the cages that confine our souls.

What is the difference between a question and the right question?

A question seeks only a factual answer. The right question, however, invites wisdom, offering

the precious gift of someone’s experience and personal insights. Many interviews miss this

opportunity because one can only connect with others as deeply as they have connected with themselves. I still vividly remember an interview years ago with a journalist ( Ellen ) for Google Arts & Culture who asked all the right questions. I shared deeply from my soul, and this openness moved the interviewer to tears, and though we had met just 15 minutes earlier, this moment was the beginning of our close friendship.

When we are in tune with our higher selves, our minds can foster genuine curiosity about

another's inner world. This is the foundation of all authentic human connections. And it is from this place that love flows.

What is that inspires you and nurtures you in your creative process?

Nature, the divine artistry of God. I am in awe when I observe the vibrant feather of a peacock, the intricate texture of a flower, or the mesmerizing shapes of seashells—each a testament to the mysteries of sacred geometry. I am also deeply drawn to mysticism, craftsmanship, and symbolism of ancient and modern cultures.

I often - metaphorically - return to my "forest bunker, " a sanctuary from my childhood where, as a five-year-old, I hid a box filled with Mother’s broken jewelry, gems and beautiful river stones. My greatest inspiration is that inner child, the five-year-old girl who lives in a world of pure magic.

What is the importance of roots and how are we able to have the energy of our roots

anywhere we go?

There's a saying, "You can take a girl out of the countryside, but you can't take the countryside out of a girl." Understanding your roots is immensely important, yet it's equally vital to cultivate a healthy detachment from them, recognizing that we are all ONE, all children of Mother Earth.

What is interesting is that even though I may not have brought many Yugoslavian-Slovenian

cultural artifacts or symbols of heritage to my Dubai studio, I think the energy I always carry

within me is the spirit of a girl raised by the forest of a once multicultural socialist-communist

country. My upbringing, lacking democracy and of freedom of expression, instilled in me a

rebellious nature and this, plus my love for nature - that I see as the true gift of my roots. I

believe as an artist, it is essential to be a rebel and a non-conformist. This has been a driving

force throughout my life.

How do you combine, or not, love and falling in love?

I recently discussed this with a friend who said, “Marta, you are a Beast. You need a beast like you. You need someone who will awaken even more beasts within you. Many men can make you happy, but how many will show you freedom in a new way? That’s the question.” Her insight was quite mind-blowing.

In the past, I tried to combine love with falling in love, but I failed each time. Yet, I have no

regrets and look back with laughter, as these experiences taught me so much about myself.

Relationships and heartbreaks are our greatest teachers. In recent years, I’ve undergone deep healing and learned something profoundly important that I was unaware of in my younger years: Love is not something we feel towards someone or something we give or receive. We ARE love. It’s the connection we have with our innermost divine self and with the Divine Source… God, Universe, whatever works for you. There's no falling here, only rising. When a man meets me as I rise to this higher level, together we can reach into the Cosmos…

How do you see, feel and understand life now? What is life to you?

The way I now see, feel, and understand life mirrors the perfect archetypal story of a Hero’s

Journey by Joseph Campbell. Life is a typical adventure of a hero who ventures forth from the “ordinary world” into a realm of supernatural wonder...

Ultimately for me, life is about breaking the cages that confine our souls. It’s about an inner

transformation—from who you think you are to who you truly are. This journey demands the

willingness to die a thousand times until we are left with our true Self. How do we know the Hero "arrived"? We will feel at peace and we will share what we learned on our adventures with the world. There is one 'cheat code' to elevate this journey of soul evolution and expansion: courage. To become who you truly are, you'll need courage, as no spiritual awakening is not for the faint-hearted. It is a daunting journey, but the adventure is the only one worth living.

What are your plans for the future?

My dream is to create an Artist Residency nestled somewhere in Nature, a healing arts

sanctuary dedicated to elevating the Spirit of UNITY of Humanity—and a place that will also be a home for at least 9 cats. This will be a tribute to Chewie, my beloved late cat boy and a

spiritual teacher. I will continue to serve my Dharma, portraying Humanity’s true Spirit through my art. I aspire to spread across the Earth, striving to inspire and ignite the higher purpose in Humanity.

I am slowly building my legacy. One portrait at a time.

*this is translation of the recent interview with Marta Lamovsek published in the Romanian magazine "Driven Lady"