The artist, Michael Ong, channels his deep Christian faith and calling as a counsellor into the visual sermon of “Fragrance.” The painting is not merely an idyllic landscape; it is a declaration to the truth that "We are deeply broken but dearly loved"—a core principle echoing divine, unconditional grace.
The expansive lavender field is the soul of the work, a metaphor steeped in scripture and solace. Like the fragrant oil used for anointing, the lavender’s hue is a carpet of penitent purple, a colour of spiritual royalty and preparation. It speaks of resilience, the humble bloom thriving even in the dry, cracked earth of life's "wilderness"—a visual promise that grace flourishes where human struggle is most evident. The scent we cannot see is the 'fragrance' of Christ (2 Corinthians 2:15), a sweet aroma of healing that permeates the soul's barren spaces.
The orderly rows of trees flanking the field stand like sentinels of faith, rooted and unwavering, while the clear path cutting through the bloom is the narrow way, a pilgrimage toward clarity and stability. This path is the journey of discipleship, a deliberate step-by-step passage away from chaos and toward the light of self-acceptance and peace, a 'safe space' mirroring the sanctuary offered by the counsellor's chair.
The overall vastness and tranquil light invite the viewer to a deep, restorative contemplation. It is here, under the soft, embracing sky, that the artist locates hope in the midst of pain and beauty from the ashes (Isaiah 61:3). The work is an invitation to pause and breathe—to surrender the shadow to the light, trusting in the transformative power that redeems every broken piece into a glorious, fragrant new creation. It is a visual prayer, speaking volumes of the enduring, dearly loved worth of the human soul.
