My attempt is to convey the essence of a violent relationship through a still life, in the center of which is a nest of barbed wire and vine branches. When objects are stationary inside, the spikes of the wire do not cause harm, but any attempt to leave causes acute pain.
Tenacious grape whiskers cling to everything, constrict and suffocate. The thistle symbolizes sorrow, recalling the crown of Christ and foreshadowing suffering. Chicory flowers fading every other day reflect those brief periods when “everything seems good” in such a relationship.
The fruits of these relationships are always bitter, like the harvest of Momordica. Bluebells are my main characters: modest, fragile, but surprisingly tenacious flowers. In a toxic environment, the viewer can see withered bluebells, and those that were able to sprout to freedom are alive and blooming.
Insects also play a role. Wasps are associated with backbiting — verbal "bites" can be just as painful as their venomous stings. Butterflies represent an immortal soul, flying away in the symbolic hope of a happy outcome.
