Oil on canvas, 200 x 29,5 cm
In my paintings, The Garden reigns supreme. Monstrous flowers and hideous plants abound, a symbol not just of nature, but of the entire earth. Like the diptych version of the Garden of Earthly Delights, a vast expanse stretches between the two images, an invitation to dive into the gardens of our subconscious, where we may discover patterns that repeat in the collective consciousness.
The fragrance of these flowers is one of mud, iron, and the moist bark of trees. Should you partake of their tea, slumber will claim you for three days. A potent brew, it can also rob you of your memory if taken in excess. The petals of these wild blooms are sharp as knives, leaving fingers wounded upon plucking. But in time, the wounds heal, and if one were to place such a bouquet at the head of their bed, they may glimpse the future in their dreams.
In my paintings, The Garden is both a warning and a promise, a testament to the power and potential of nature. I invite you to step into this world, where beauty and danger walk hand in hand, and to see what truths you may uncover within.
Olga Shcheblykina is a visual artist from Ukraine. She works in painting and sculpture and is represented by Galerie Rudolf Leeb in Vienna. Her work is included in the Lentos Museum of Arts collection.
Die Arbeit "the garden" wurde im Rahmen der Ausstellung BestOFF Sommerfrische 2023 gezeigt.