IS1 023 Vivienne Flesher 01 Vivienne Flesher

The artwork presents a still life composition centered around a decorative vase holding two peonies. The color palette is dominated by cool tones – a vibrant blue background and a silvery-blue hue for the vessel itself. This creates a sense of stillness and quietude, while also lending an ethereal quality to the scene.
Here we see the artist has employed a loose, expressive style; the marks are visible and contribute to the overall texture. The peonies themselves are rendered with a delicate touch, their petals exhibiting subtle gradations in color from pink to white, suggesting both freshness and fragility. Their arrangement within the vase is slightly asymmetrical, preventing a rigid or overly formal feel.
The frame surrounding the central image is noteworthy. It’s executed in darker tones – black and red – and features an intricate pattern of foliage that contrasts sharply with the simplicity of the floral subject matter. This framing device serves to isolate the still life, drawing attention to its inherent qualities while also introducing a layer of complexity. The irregular edges of the frame suggest a deliberate rejection of conventional boundaries, hinting at a more spontaneous and intuitive approach to creation.
Subtly, the work seems to explore themes of transience and beauty. Peonies are known for their short blooming period, which may imply a meditation on the fleeting nature of existence. The cool color scheme reinforces this sense of melancholy, while the delicate rendering of the flowers evokes a feeling of tenderness and appreciation for ephemeral moments. The contrast between the contained stillness of the still life and the dynamic energy of the frame could be interpreted as a reflection on the interplay between order and chaos, or perhaps the tension between observation and expression.