An Article by D. M. (797 words, 4 min. read)
It is not often that one finds oneself turning to nature for answers. The gloomy skies of winter gradually clear up with the arrival of each spring which brings with it its blooming flowers, promising life, in all its glory, painting a palette of color onto the delicate canvas of the Earth.
Zeina Nader, a colorful soul, an artist with a mission, reflects this natural beauty via her expression of what spring would look like on canvas. Her exhibition “Flowers” is a beautiful collection of abstract flowers paints a wonderful and delicate view of spring onto small artworks on the walls of the prestigious St. Raphael Resort and Marina in Limassol, Cyprus.
An Invitation Back to Nature
Upon entering the exhibition Hall at The Tower within the Saint Raphael Resort, one is greeted by an invitation poster that cannot but invite one to explore the space within. Much like the attraction of a magnet moving an object to its vicinity, the exhibition pulls you in, and once inside the exhibition hall, one can almost smell the scent of flowers as one strolls admiring the walls, beautifully curated, with small works that fit the overall psychology of seeing delicate flowers onto the bed of a beautiful field within nature.
And much like a flower is delicate, so are the works. The canvases are chosen as thin panels, a courageous move on behalf of the artist. One needs experience to be able to boldly paint a feeling onto a small dimension, and with a soft touch which adds to the delicacy of the works. The colors, although varied and span the spectrum of a multitude of vibrations, much like in nature, one does not see conflict, nor does the eye feel pressure from a powerful stimulation. On the contrary, the thirst of the eye is quenched by delicacy, and the abstraction of the flowers allows one’s mind to paint the actual image within one’s mind. Such is the power of an artist, to deliver a message, to evoque a sensation, without being imposing. In this exhibition, Zeina Nader does just that. She transports the observer into the natural world which she sees and feels, and then lets the mind create its own beautiful environment.
The Irony of Nature
In particular, there is irony in one of the wall compositions. We can see the beautiful flowers, painted to be seen and felt and admired, but underneath, a set of paintings totally abstract the image, even with the choice of colors that are not naturally found in a flower field. Is the artist trying to tell us something? Could it be that this poises one to reflect and explore what the depths of their soul can create out of the image that the eye sees? A very interesting and provocative contrast that takes courage to do.
We also witness in some cases the ability of one painting to flow into the next. Much like in diptych paintings, one gets the sense that indeed two (or more) of those works can be diptychs or triptychs. This is not done on purpose, but one can almost see the commonality between the works. Again, a reflection of what one sees in nature where sometimes repetitive patterns are necessary to paint a complete and valid picture.
The Power of the Square Petals
A pot on a table, an obvious bouquet of flowers, but an unusual form. In nature, square flowers do not exist. Yet the mind accepts it, embraces it, and the hand almost reaches out to touch it. This particular work is the highlight of the exhibition. One cannot but stop and think and feel when admiring this particular work, wondering how did the artist come up with this composition using these particular colors? Was she trying to reflect what is within her? Or is it that her vision of the sensation that flowers provoke is translated into squarish emotions that one tends to frame within the inner self, and inner soul? A powerful yet delicate, a strong yet soft painting which surely would provoke a lot of deep discussion.
An Exhibition That Tickles The Soul
This exhibition is not merely an art exposition. It is a psychological journey into our own self, where we explore what is within, take it to the outside, and admire beauty in all of its intricate delicacies.
Perhaps this was why the Exhibition itself was chosen as the site where managing director Farah Shammas, who is also a certified yoga and well-being coach, shall host a talk with Jill Douka, the famous Canadian-Greek master certified coach, one of the top 4 percent coaches in the world on May 16, 2025. The talk is free for all to attend.
