"This painting brings a strong contrast of feelings for me. At first, it feels soft and girly, with its light palette and playful bows. Yet, underneath there is a hidden fury.
Maybe it’s in the wilting flowers—symbols of impermanence, fragility, and the passage of time. They evoke a sense of transition, from youthful femininity to the maturity of womanhood, a theme I’ve explored throughout this series specifically, but its also very present in my body of work.
Or perhaps it’s in the delicate bows, which speak to the idea of women as vessels of tradition, beauty, and life. The vase becomes a metaphor for the societal role of women as vessels, restrained by expectations.
Then there’s the beast at the center—a reminder of our untamed instincts, suppressed, not so hidden beneath the surface. Its presence contrasts with the bows and soft colors, representing the inner strength and rage behind an idea of grace.
With this I would like to think I'm exploring the tension between appearance and inner complexity, reflecting the layered experience of femininity: beauty and fury, softness and power, intertwined." - Antonia xx