Ariel Vargassal

Festooning Risk

2022

Kaitlin Ziesmer's (US based) "Sam" is an original, handmade AcrylaGouache painting that depicts a pink and green woodpecker wearing a black frilly coll...

Kaitlin Ziesmer's (US based) "Purdy" is an original, handmade AcrylaGouache painting that depicts a pink and black bird in profile wearing a levitating...

Kaitlin Ziesmer's (US based) "Ziggy" is an original, handmade AcrylaGouache painting that depicts a portrait of a black bird wearing a red frilly colla...

This striking acrylic painting by Moldovan-Spanish artist Natasha Lelenco features a surreal anthropomorphic portrait constructed from lush green leaves and blooming yellow daisies, blending botanical precision with symbolic intensity. The central figure’s face, composed entirely of flowers, is both haunting and tender, while a pink tongue and tiny plastic toy soldier create a poignant contrast that challenges the viewer’s perception of innocence, violence, and the natural world. Set against a softly gradated sky-blue background, the painting invites reflection on ecological fragility and the absurdity of human conflict. Part of the acclaimed “Fetishes” series, this work is inspired by Giuseppe Arcimboldo’s botanical portraits, reinterpreted with contemporary urgency. Lelenco’s painting critiques war and environmental destruction through a visual language that is as poetic as it is unsettling. The toy soldier, perched delicately on a green leaf-arm, acts as a miniature symbol of violence embedded in play, questioning the narratives we inherit and enact. The piece was originally commissioned for Imaxinaria, Mostra Internacional de Ilustración Contemporánea in Galicia (Spain) and remains one of the most iconic works of the series. Medium: Acrylic on board Dimensions: [Insert exact dimensions] Year: 2022 Framing: Painted edges, ready to hang, no frame needed Signed by the artist Keywords: Acrylic botanical portrait, Anti-war painting, Contemporary Arcimboldo style...