Maria Nida’s Nature’s creations welcome you

Maria Nida was born in Belgium. Together with her life partner she often came on holiday to Crete. They made many trips in and every time again the island itself brought them in contact with its ancient heart energy in loveliness as well as in confrontation, and invited them to sense deep experiences. And thus they longed to settle themselves here. Since 2005 they have lived on Crete.
The most exciting aspect of living on Crete is the close relationship with nature. Its infinite variety of colour, splendour, power and beauty is always present. And so are the mighty gorges. They originate from a volcanic shift of the crust of the earth 14 million years ago. Rain-water has continuously eroded the clefts.
Maria roams these untouched areas, listening to the winds, the birds and the magic vibration in the air and so she lets herself guide to the magic spots. There she finds the fascinating ebony.Growing on the steep rocky slopes, this shrub is at the mercy of the winds, the rain and avalanches and finally it ends up at the foot of the mountain where it sometimes lies for decades, the wood turning grey where the sun shines on it, the side that touches the earth remaining black.
The spirits of nature connected with the wood tell whether they want to come with Maria or prefer to stay where they are. Almost always the wood is broken or torn and asks for healing.
Because of the ranking of the branches the essential part of the bush needs to be sculptured. It’s the wood itself that tells where its heart is and what it wants, so that its old power can resurrect and a new life can begin.

Apart from Crete, also Gavdos offers a home to Maria. This small sparely populated island 30 km southwards, has a more subtle vibration. The tough cedar wood found here is whimsical, elegant and weather-beaten in its own specific way. The reflection of the intense light on the sand and the sea turns the wood white.
The complementary energies of both islands, that is the coarse vibration of the earth in Crete on the one hand and the high cosmic vibration of Gavdos on the other hand, find a harmonious unison in the art of Maria Nida. Earth and heaven, female and male are united.

Both admirers of art and nature lovers recognize their own true inner freedom, power and beauty in the statues.