Flowers 

Constantin Piliuta's painting presents a simple still life, yet the symbolism of flowers carries deep cultural roots. The arrangement of flowers in a vase is not merely decorative. Across centuries and cultures, from ancient Roman frescoes to Dutch Golden Age paintings, floral motifs have represented life's transience, beauty, and renewal. The specific type of flower, in this case, is less important than the gesture itself – the act of gathering nature's fleeting beauty and displaying it. Consider the vanitas paintings of the 17th century, where wilting flowers served as a memento mori, reminding viewers of their mortality. Yet, these same flowers, depicted with vibrant color and intricate detail, also celebrated the sensory richness of life. The emotional tension between joy and sorrow, beauty and decay, is a powerful force that engages us subconsciously. Piliuta taps into this collective memory, reminding us of the cyclical nature of existence. The flower, an archetype of nature’s continuous cycle, has resurfaced, evolved, and taken on new meanings in ever-changing contexts.