Fantastical Creature Brass Figurine Collectible Art, "Metta Toy Art, Ilse"

From Ruby Yallouz' original "Metta Toy Art" collection of miniature brass figurines, the character of Ilse is inspired by the character Ilsa Lund played by Ingrid Bergman in Casablanca. "This character is a tribute to my mother, who loved Ingrid," explains the Brazilian artist. Ilse is Swedish and comes from the third dimension of human consciousness, but as a woman she is more sensitive and has a vision. She is a beautiful but troubled woman who fell in love with Rick because she thought her husband had died in the war, then discovered that he was alive.

"These Metta Toys are the first thing I worked on after recovering from brain surgery. I had never done anything like them. Above all, these new creations, my creatures, have brought me immense happiness. With them I smile again and I've had fun with them, even though the message they bring is a serious one. The Metta Toys were born to bring happiness and laughter to our lives, which is why I'd like to share them with the world, especially where a smile is needed," confides Yallouz of her sculpted figurines. "After all, we all smile in the same language."

Yallouz is inspired by Vipassana meditation, as well as Barbara Hand Clow's Pleiadian dimensions of consciousness.