Lilac portrays the first emotions of love through a comparison between the flower and the feeling. It blooms in spring when the cycle of nature starts; a relationship begins with these feelings of infatuation. The gentle pastel color of the lilac are the romantic feelings that have not yet turned into deeper love (a good symbol for profound love would be a rose with a rich red color), thus the pale color. The scent of the flower is sweet and enchanting, it entrances your whole body, just like when you are falling in love, there is the famous saying you see everything through pink-coloured glasses- it affects your whole being.

The yellow carnation represents disappointment while the ring is a symbol of connection between people, in this case a romantic relationship. The flower has grown, its roots developing and feeding of the ring.

The human mind (portrayed by the skull) flourishes and thrives (depicted by the butterflies, used as a positive symbol and symbolize resurrection) through philosophy and understanding oneself (books represent knowledge). Just like the caterpillars metamorphose into butterflies, able to grasp more of the world, the mind has the ability to transform and gain a greater comprehension.

In this painting, nature is put in a theatrical setting order to highlight her beauty. The nest full of eggs symbolizes the fragileness of new life, while the bird represents the figure of the protector who gives warmth and hope for the future. The soap bubbles contribute as a symbol of the ephemerality of life. The whole outlook and message is to enjoy nature, but with a tender care, because, like the soap bubble, we can ruin it with one touch. The final motif is the yellow snail symbolizing the circle of life. The humility and respect with which we must treat nature and life.

Through the symbols in “Traveler’s Desk” the painting depicts man’s yearning for knowledge. The knowledge yet to be discovered (symbolized by the closed books) is obtained by travelling (indicated by the globe). This desk tells the story of a dreamer curious to learn through his travels (curiosity depicted by the squirrel that they’ve brought from overseas, as this type of rodent is not found in Europe). You can also find that this person is interested in foreign cultures, hence he has received a letter with a haiku, a type of traditional Japanese poetry. In this context, the scales stand for a reminder that knowledge is more valuable than material riches.

With “Memento Roses” I want to capture the transitory beauty of life, the short-lived nature of emotions and how we treasure them. Making a comparison between the rose petals and human emotions: beautiful, yet ephemeral. Emotions and the memory of them fades away and change overtime, just like flowers wither. I created this scene as a kind of memorial, an unchanging altar where the emotion and beauty has been captured: a place to go back to and relive this experience. 2019 International Talent Competition - Second Place winner