The Power of Flying by Marifé Núñez: A Luminous Vision of the Power to Fly, Overcome the Barriers of Age, and Challenge Ageism

The Power of Flying is the third series in Abu-Power by artist Marifé Núñez. This new collection of acrylic paintings on canvas offers a warm, uplifting, and thoughtful perspective on ageing. Far removed from stereotypes that equate age with limitation, decline, or invisibility, the series celebrates later life as a stage of expansion, beauty, humour, and freedom.

Its protagonists are older women with magnetic presence, elegance, and remarkable character. They emerge as powerful figures within a vibrant, contemporary visual universe. Through them, the artist challenges the ageism of a society that too often marginalises or oversimplifies old age, transforming it instead into a space of affirmation: growing older does not mean fading away, but embracing a new and richer way of being in the world.

Throughout the series, birds symbolize inner flight, the expansion of the soul, and the desire to transcend whatever confines us. In contrast, luxury handbags introduce a second layer of meaning. They serve as a playful reference to the world of fashion, while also offering a subtle critique of image-driven consumerism—the need to project status and appearance that binds us to the material world and keeps us grounded.

In this way, the artist creates a dialogue between two opposing forces: the impulse to fly, understood as the soul’s aspiration toward freedom, and everything that keeps us tied to the ground—our ego, external judgment, the desire for possession, and the weight of social expectations. Beneath its elegant, colourful, and approachable aesthetic, The Power of Flying invites a profound reflection on freedom, identity, and the right to continue dreaming at every stage of life.

With a bold, vibrant, and deeply expressive painterly language, the series reclaims old age through tenderness, wit, and strength. These women neither ask for permission nor apologise for taking up space. They fly, they shine, and they remind us that true luxury lies not in what we own, but in our ability to live with an authentic soul.