friendship ending‘Friendship Ending’ recalls a life experience when we fall into hopeful friendships. Disillusioned, we invest and exert immense time and energy into something that is misguided and one-sided. When your expectations aren’t met and you feel exhausted by the effort, you realise the friendship resembles a bouquet of flowers, which are seemingly beautiful, but are short-lived. To personify the image in this painting, loose and distressed feathers, with glimmers of gold-leaf, hold the focus while floating without a Sparrow in sight.
At first glance, this piece is strikingly beautiful. It bursts with radiant and vivid colour. But, not all flowers have good meanings and by looking deeper you will find the composition has a much darker tone. From toxic Aconite representing hatred and caution, to a withered pink Tulip (the dying friendship) that realises its fate. Orange Lilies in bloom act as a facade of hatred and disdain, and Petunias reflect feelings of resentment and anger from a heated disagreement. All the while, Buttercups scatter the base of this composition to show childishness, ingratitude, and unfaithful behaviour. |