Introduction
Her heart flutters, her breath vanishes, she sees and feels a burning shame in her chest. She touches her face right where she saw the other being kissed with the delicacy she yearned for, where that strong hand held her. And she watches with envy as the other melts in his arms, eyes closed, completely dominated by tenderness.
Unwillingly, she slips into the burning abyss of emotions that possessed her, that subjugated her with the longing of her unfulfilled desire…
It was quiet and she could barely feel the flicker of her imagination, trying to evoke that sensation of intimacy that eluded her, that desire she craved from the depths of her soul…
She wondered when she would feel that delicate touch, when she would be embraced by that passionate hold, when she would surrender to her ideal man…
But all she could do was slowly caress the same cheek, hold tight to her chest the cloak that awaited them both, and control the tears that filled her eyes…
—
How many people desire such delicate touches, especially when they see them in others?
Artist Larisa Chindriș captures with accuracy in her piece “Desire” the human yearning to have the same ideal we see in others, which we often enrich and embellish through our optimistic imagination.
The work is created as an x-ray of emotions. The Celestial Blue on the exterior represents the coldness and external calm we present to the world, while the Vivid Fire Orange inside is our internal x-ray, representing the burning emotions that we feel internally, hidden from unwanted gazes.
The way the subject of the work is captured, with the touch on the cheek, the cloak held tight to the chest, eyes half-closed as if in a dream state, mouth partially open as if breathing pain, with the tearful dripping of the canvas, all these capture the emotion of tender yearning that all people feel. Namely, that need for love that is implanted in our being, in the very matter from which we are created.
This piece had two major inspirations:
- “The Kiss” by Gustav Klimt; which is honored and visibly included in the orange cheek of the girl, but only a small portion of the painting, namely, the kissing scene;
- A verse by Rupi Kaur: “I am not the whiskey you want, but the water you need”;
However, both positions play a role in everyone’s lives, and none of us is restricted to a single character. For which we have the following question:
Do you still desire an ideal, or are you the ones who make others yearn for it?
Interpretation of Symbols
Symbols:
- Hand over cheek evokes tenderness and the desire for a delicate touch, an element inspired by Klimt’s “The Kiss”. It symbolizes the connection between two lovers, reflected here through a meditation on the desire for a masculine ideal.
- Distant gaze suggests an inner daydream, a projection of an unfulfilled yearning, alluding to an imagined kiss, to a deeply desired moment of intimacy that remains inaccessible.
- Dripping reminds us of water which represents feminine energy, completing the metaphor of desire and fluid emotions. The running of colors, as if the painting was caught in the rain, brings a note of melancholy. Additionally, water, a feminine element that represents vitality and sustains life, suggests the fluidity of mixed and intense feelings that blend and merge, melting external sensations, washing reality itself through its intensity, through its persistent power that dissolves emotions and colors.
- The cloak held tight to the chest expresses the desire for protection and isolation, to create an intimate space where vulnerability can be shared only with the right person. It is a reflection on intimacy and the desire to be hidden and protected from the rest of the world.
- Reaction and stimulus are present in the same image, in the form of an emotional radiograph. The bright orange (Living Fire) signifies the intense passion within, containing the image of the man’s hand over the woman’s face, exactly the element that sparked this volatile and sensual reaction in the subject. The girl’s face, in a bluish-grey, in direct contrast with the emotions inside, amplifies the message of yearning for delicate touches, full of meaning, of sensual impulse that animates a woman’s being, that melts and seduces her.
- Facial expression is animated by an unfulfilled desire, by the anticipation of something similar, breathing appears interrupted, as if the feminine figure is holding it, and heartbeats drown out any external sound, only the feeling from inside, from the bright orange underneath, has a voice in the girl’s head, as well as the vivid image that awakens such an intense reaction in her.
Another symbol and major inspiration was the following verse by Rupi Kaur: “I am not the whiskey you want, I am the water you need”.
We can see the influence of this verse by analyzing the following:
- The cloak is held tight to the chest and suggests hope, as it waits to be worn alongside someone.
- The touch on the cheek, the parted lips, and the partially closed eyes, suggest desire and availability, somewhat the search for desire’s manifestation, but the cloak is hope and waiting, for it brings intimacy and stability, “the water you need”.
If it was just the expression without the cloak, it would have been about whiskey, an ephemeral stimulant, and inhibitor that causes harm, whereas the cloak and the fine portrayed expressions suggest restraint and waiting for the “water” needed in the long term.
Artist Larisa Chindriș has diligently highlighted how a yearning awakened by an ideal can manifest in a person. The feminine figure represents the sentimental part in people, both men and women (who are often more predisposed and willing to show emotional vulnerability). The artist has tactfully exemplified how any person who feels the need for tender touches is influenced by stimuli from the external world, how they internalize them, and how they can dictate perceptual reality.
Evoked Feelings
The work evokes powerful feelings of desire, sensuality, and passion, while emotional overwhelm is present in every detail of the face and composition. The gaze and suggested gestures emanate inner intensity and desire for intimacy with a special person, an ideal that each of us holds.
Ideal Usage
“Desire” is a piece that evokes powerful feelings of yearning for tender intimacy with an ideal person.
It would be best suited for the following spaces:
- Bedroom: Due to the intimate atmosphere created, it is a perfect place for display.
- Private Office: Due to the introspective ambiance it conveys, it leads any viewer to thoughts of their ideal life partner.
- Beauty Clinic: Complements the space through the congruence of the conveyed idea. The fact that such a clinic’s purpose is to help people attract their ideal partners aligns exactly with the yearning of the feminine figure in the work.
- Entrance Hall: If the hosts’ intention is to sensitize guests from the moment they enter and show them the depth of their feelings.
Color Analysis
Color Totality: Living Fire, Coral, Carrot, Dark Orange, Celestial Blue, Azure, Pastel, Charcoal, Iron Grey
Color Significance:
- Living Fire Orange conveys warmth, passion, and energy, but here it can also symbolize the intensity of desire and longing.
- Celestial blue brings an emotional contrast, suggesting serenity and calmness that balances passion. This blue can also be interpreted as an attempt to calm intense emotions and tame them.
- Black introduces an element of mystery, gravity, and depth, underlining the introspective aspect of the work.
Together, these colors create an effect of emotional radiography, revealing layers of desire and vulnerability.
Artistic Movement
The work falls under Contemporary Expressionism due to its emphasis on emotion and the inner state, but includes elements of Symbolism through references to Klimt’s “The Kiss”. Influences from Pop Art are observed in the use of vibrant colors and image stylization, while Art Nouveau elements are evident in the soft curves and decorative styling.
Working Style
- Technique: Dripping, Layering, Glazing, Contemporary Chiaroscuro, Slow-drying over fast-drying
- Materials: Oil on Canvas
The artist uses techniques such as dripping and layering, which bring depth and texture to the work. Glazing (color transparency) is used to create overlapping effects between the main image and hidden symbols underneath. Contemporary chiaroscuro highlights the contrast between light and shadow, while the slow over fast technique (slow-drying layers over fast-drying ones) adds additional complexity to the texture.
Composition
- Work subjects: Artist’s self-portrait in meditation on desire and symbolic connection with “The Kiss” by Klimt.
- Arrangement of elements: The central figure occupies most of the space, with carefully calculated background details evoking symbolic elements.
- Compositional balance: Asymmetrical, which adds dynamism to the work, aligning with themes of desire and emotional tension.
- Proportion and scale: Proportions are natural but stylized to emphasize emotional features. The hand and face are the main focal points.
- Line and form: Lines are curved, and soft, yet dynamic, reflecting the fluidity and vulnerability of emotions.
- Color and contrast: Strong contrast between blue and orange emphasizes the tension between calmness and passion.
- Space and depth: Depth is created through overlapping symbols and color layering.
- Rhythm and landmarks: The flowing rhythm of colors and details adds subtle movement, guiding the viewer through different layers of meaning.
Associations and Inspirations
The artist clearly draws inspiration from Gustav Klimt, with evident references to “The Kiss”.
There’s also influence from Pop Art through bold use of color and from Art Nouveau through decorated forms and natural curves.
Additionally, Rupi Kaur’s poetry inspired the theme of desire and feminine energy.
Conclusion
Finally, the mastery with which “Desire” was created by artist Larisa Chindriș, capturing the delicate feeling of longing for authentic intimacy, evokes an atmosphere of romanticized sensuality and passion that encourages us to dare and have hope in the search for an ideal partner.
As the painting is a symbol that invites contemplation, it creates an intimate and sensual atmosphere and can encourage deep conversations, especially when placed in an area exposed to curious eyes, such as a private office, bedroom, or entrance hall.
The future owner of this piece will become a Cultural Patron who supports and promotes local values. It is a title held by few people, but one that is highly appreciated in society.
This piece complements any refined space where considerable investment has been made, being complementary to modern luxurious decors, which often impress through simplicity and minimalism but do not stimulate the senses.
In most decorating schemes, walls remain the most neglected, despite being focal points that can elevate a room and impress any guest through a carefully chosen piece.
And this happens because the selected painting represents the owner and honors them in front of others.
Because paintings are among the few decorations that highlight the deep thoughts and emotions that an owner has and which, normally, must be made known through long conversations.
A well-chosen painting can do this in minutes.
And it can continue this task for a lifetime, even more so, when we remember that this precious good is passed on to descendants.
And with time, the value of such an object inevitably increases.
For it is a unique and inimitable piece that is in the possession of only one person, its rightful owner.
Therefore, if you feel that “Desire” is right for you or that it conveys to you and others the feelings you identify with, don’t hesitate to call us to reserve it.
