Liliy 2015

Editor: This is "Liliy," a watercolor painting done en plein-air by Bernadette Resha in 2015. I am really struck by the use of light; it feels like that perfect, fleeting moment after a rain shower. What do you see in this piece? Curator: It’s interesting you mention the light. Notice how the artist uses the lily as a vessel for light, each petal a repository. Throughout history, lilies symbolize purity and resurrection, often connected with feminine ideals of both motherhood and beauty. It also represents transformative events, but with a delicate emotional depth; would you agree? Editor: Absolutely, the presence of water evokes feelings of purification and the lily as beauty does highlight transformation. There are tiny water droplets too. Curator: The water droplets, yes! They speak volumes. Think of them as tears – remnants of a recent emotional release. In many cultures, tears aren't just sadness; they cleanse and renew, leading to rebirth. Bernadette Resha uses impasto to paint these water droplets on the lily flower; each carrying its own memory and emotional charge to portray how powerful resilience can be during such times. How does this resonate with you? Editor: It changes how I view the painting, making me focus less on that sense of calmness. There is more complexity of resilience rather than momentary feelings; I did not know about those cultural ideas linked to lilies either. Thank you! Curator: And thank you. Symbols continuously evolve – images shape how we remember. Hopefully others will engage with it differently now too.