“Trees are sanctuaries. Whoever knows how to speak to them, whoever knows how to listen to them, can learn the truth of the ancient law of life”, “Wandering”, Hermann Hesse

The idea for the “Trees and Flowers in Time” theme was inspired from various stories appearing in humanity’s holy books, as well as from my travels to the Near East. Trees and flowers have always been an inseparable part of our life, being symbols of various cultural traditions, mythology, music, art, literature, medicine, architecture, decoration, and last, but not least – sustenance. They provide us with remarkable examples for non-obedience, courage, persistence, ingenuity and inventiveness.

Their symbolism was used by many artists to convey secret messages that could be deciphered by experts who understand their meaning, colours and etymology. Flowers have always helped people express their feelings without actually using words. They are also subject to our efforts to preserve and revive certain aspects of the ecology of our planet which is instrumental in our survival.

This theme is also characterized by my specific practice of utilizing crystal elements on wooden panels. Thus, I make use of the capacity of the crystals to reflect light in a very specific almost magic-like way which adds to the fairy-tale like quality to each painting in this cycle.