Solenn Heussaff recently talked about the meaning behind the painting that didn't sit well with many netizens who deemed it "poverty porn."
https://mb.com.ph/2021/03/05/solenn-heussaff-deletes-poverty-porn-photo-says-sorry/
According to her, the artwork she titled "Isang Salita" signified "freedom," "abundance," and "balance" while the carpet symbolized "the painting melting on the ground."
"Mawawala ang lahat ang lahat ng 'yan if we don't pay attention or if we don't start doing something on our own," she said, explaining what she was trying to convey with it in an interview with Julius Babao.
"It's not about me bringing awareness kasi alam naman ng lahat na may environmental problem, may issue, but what are we doing personally on our own or at home to help the situation?"
She revealed they initially planned to have the photo taken in the middle of EDSA but it didn't pan out.
"We shot it in a street in Las Piñas, just a regular street. You know, when you go to work, 'yung mga maliliit na daan-daan. That's where we shot. Actually in front of the factory where we produce the furniture. But 'yun, I guess people saw it in a different way and I wasn’t able to explain myself properly."
As to the backlash she received, Solenn understands deeming it all "very relevant."
"Parang eye-opener para sa akin, so I saw their side. So, 'yun, I wanted to apologize to everyone," she said.
She reiterated her whole purpose was to show how life was so abundant before people started doing everything that they’re doing.
“Pero there is still that hope, you know the future we all want for our children or for the next generation. There's still a way for us to reach that if we just start today, or start yesterday. So that was the painting and the photo,” Solenn related.
“Alam ko naman na I’m privileged, but hindi ibig sabihin na bobo ako o hindi ko alam kung ano yung mangyayari. So, it’s not because I’m privileged that I can’t care about the people I see every day.”
In the end, she respects others' opinion on her work.
“Kaya naiintindihan ko naman. I tried to - not naman to defend. I tried to explain myself to some people, but I saw na parang medyo naging out of hand at some point, so I just decided to delete it.”