INTRODUCTION

Often, we distance ourselves from our origins and want to detach from old traditions to enter modernity. We sacrifice our rich past to welcome and adopt the new, which is often insipid and soulless. All in an attempt to reject customs that are considered outdated or “old-fashioned”.

Perhaps foreigners from outside the country influence us, perhaps shame of the old, perhaps we want to catch up with the Westerners as quickly as possible… Who knows why many of us avoid appreciating ancestral customs…

But we must remember that they brought us here, they kept our people united in centuries when we were surrounded by merciless enemies, and they are entirely our own.

For if we want to imitate more “civilized” peoples, we must first begin to honor ourselves, to respect and love the lineage from which we come, just as foreigners do when they celebrate their traditions.

This is exactly what Larisa Chindriș’s work “Roots and Wings” intends to do.

It is a tribute to indigenous customs, honoring the ancestral past of primordial virtues: love of land, bravery, aspiration for freedom, honest work, and the restlessness of creation.

Traits that reflect the soul of the Romanian people, characteristics found in all of us.

The present work honors the past, present, and future of our nation. It is a representative piece for any citizen who respects and loves their family and kin.

Through this work, Chindriș is a messenger for any compatriot from home or abroad. For the artist, through her style, strongly influenced by painters like Repin, Grigorescu, and Luchian, has involuntarily become a bearer of values that reflect the soul of the Romanian people.

For this piece, painted with toil over the course of a year, worked like the soil it pays homage to, subtly evokes the emotion that will help us achieve the prestige we desire.

And this feeling that we lack, more from a fear of being judged than ignorance towards it, is solemn pride in our nation.

Interpretation of Symbols

Symbols:

• The empty hands of the elderly show that they cannot offer anything to their daughter; Their hands are visibly worked, showing the sacrifice and toil with which they raised her day by day; Beyond the empty palms, those who look carefully can see with their mind’s eye the weariness of the past;
• The girl holds a globe between her hands, exactly in the stomach area, which symbolizes life and birth, suggesting that all that matters are descendants and family, not material possessions;
• The presence of the troubled elderly indicates spiritual wealth; they are troubled that they have nothing to offer, but their presence is a spiritual fortune; the clothes are most likely made by the old woman, as was the tradition in the countryside, so everyone is dressed thanks to her, and everyone is alive and healthy thanks to the old man who works the land daily, as evidenced by his work-thickened hands;
• The traditional dress is a tribute to peasantry; the clothes are made by women, and they are blessed through prayers to protect wearers from demons and other evil spirits; the clothes are worn in almost every activity by the peasant, being an indispensable part of country life;
• The old man holds his hand to his heart symbolically, as if to suggest that he has nothing to offer except himself, which indicates modesty and character, generosity, care and responsibility, selflessness without regard for his own person;
• The young girl holds the globe in the stomach area, where maternal pregnancy is noticeable, which symbolizes life; The globe somewhat reminds of how the stomach rounds during pregnancy; The position of her hands is a combination between the two elderly, between feminine care (upper hand) and masculine protection (lower hand);
• The two elderly are painted in monochrome, the absence of colors suggesting that they represent our past; The young girl represents the present and future, the globe around her stomach represents the future;
• The elders’ looks are somewhat troubled, of compassion and disappointment that they cannot help the young woman with any material goods, hence their innocent gestures with empty extended hands; They have lived a lifetime and already know the difficult course of existence, they would like to protect their daughter from the difficulties ahead, but have nothing to offer except themselves and their care;
• The girl wears traditional clothing worn by unmarried girls, suggesting freedom and opportunity, not yet constrained by any future;
• The expression on the girl’s face is innocent, full of hope and confidence, especially having her two grandparents beside her; she somewhat realizes the wealth of having them close better than they understand; at the same time it is a reference to the fact that if youth knew what was coming, perhaps they wouldn’t have hope anymore; for the elderly look with care and fear at the girl’s future, contemplating it and comparing it with their difficult past, most likely; the old woman looks at the child area, being the one who took care of their upbringing; the old man looks into the distance, practically at the future as a whole, knowing how much toil it takes to care for a family;
• The floral roots under the girl connect her to our traditions and symbolize that they continue through her, as she maintains their freshness;
• The cobalt blue in the background represents stability, calm, spirituality and transcendence;
• The wings behind the girl suggest freedom and opportunity, the fact that she has the possibility to achieve anything she sets her mind to thanks to the healthy roots that formed her;

Evoked Feelings

The work evokes a subtle blend of feelings, including respect for cultural heritage, hope for the future, pride, but also a slight melancholy. The elderly convey solemnity and a kind of quiet sadness, knowing they have little left to offer, while the young woman, with her innocent and confident expression, represents the optimism and unexplored potential of future generations.

It is a complete work that symbolizes all three states of a nation’s existence: past, present, and future;

Ideal Usage

Due to its impressive size, powerful symbolism, and message connected to tradition and continuity, this work would be best suited for large spaces that wish to evoke solemnity and respect for values.

Ideal locations for exhibiting this work could be:

• Embassy – In a place representing a nation, the work would express the fundamental values of Romanians.
• Public Institutions – Where tradition and history are central points.
• Practice Office – Can evoke the feeling of trust and continuity.
• Corporate or Company Headquarters – As a symbol of respect for traditions and responsibility towards the future.
• Villas, Penthouses – In large spaces, the work would draw attention through its profound symbolism and become a central point of conversation.
• Hotel Reception (ideal for a rustic guesthouse) – To evoke love and solidarity towards one’s people.

Color Analysis

• Cobalt Blue – Conveys a feeling of calm and stability, associated with spirituality and transcendence.
• Monochrome portraits of the elderly – The black and white contrast suggests a strong connection to the past, the simplicity and modesty of their life.
• Red and black in the young woman’s attire – Red symbolizes the energy and force of life, while black can suggest a more solemn aspect, a connection to the past or death.
• The green from the headscarf and the girl’s roots suggests unity in both roots and consciousness, highlighting their vital health.
• The white in the hemp garments and wings symbolizes cleanliness and purity.

The combination of these colors creates a profound emotional impact, where hope and respect for cultural heritage intertwine with a slight melancholy and gratitude toward the past.

Artistic Movement

The work falls under Contemporary Figurative Art, with influences from Social Realism. We observe a realistic approach to portraits, but with stylized elements that give psychological depth and symbolic significance. All portraits are psychological in nature, as all three facial expressions reveal the characters’ thoughts.

Working Style

• Technique: Sfumato, Glazing, Mixed Media, Chiaroscuro
• Materials: Oil on Canvas; Acrylic; Charcoal;

The artist uses a combination of techniques such as sfumato and chiaroscuro, combined with glazing to add subtle layers and details. The monochrome and mixed media technique gives the elderly portraits a distinct emotional depth, while the young woman is rendered with more vibrant shades that clearly place her at the center of attention.

Composition

“Roots and Wings” is composed of six modules, symmetrically arranged, with a strong visual balance. The proportions are well established, with the young woman in the center and the elderly positioned on either side, reflecting a clear and well-defined structure.

• Arrangement of Elements: Each module contains essential elements, with the upper modules focusing on the portraits of the central characters, and the lower ones highlighting the hands – a symbol of creation and continuity. The portraits of the elderly are placed symmetrically in relation to the young woman’s figure, emphasizing the connection between generations.
• Balance: The visual distribution is symmetrical, with the elderly positioned as two pillars on either side of the young woman, their bodies oriented towards her while they gaze into the distance. The girl in the center, looking forward with symmetrically placed hands, creates a visual balance between the past and the future.
• Proportion and Scale: The proportions are carefully balanced, emphasizing the faces and hands of the characters. The hands are important symbols of work and sacrifice, while the faces, through their expressiveness, evoke powerful emotions.
• Focal Point: The hands and faces represent the points of interest in the work. The hands are placed in the foreground in the lower modules, underlining their symbolic importance, while the faces of the elderly and the girl reflect multiple emotional states and convey a story about time, family bonds, and traditions.
• Line and Form: The line work is delicate and precise, with the soft curves of the hands contrasting with the rigid lines and details of the clothing. This opposition creates a subtle dynamism between strength and fragility, between the past represented by the elderly and the present personified by the girl.
• Color and Contrast: The contrast is evident between the monochrome portraits of the elderly and the colored figure of the girl in the center. The girl, wearing red and white, represents vitality and life, while the elderly suggest sobriety and sacrifice. The cobalt blue background brings stability and depth, evoking calmness and transcendence, while the girl’s red skirt creates a strong contrast, symbolizing the boldness of youth.
• Space and Depth: The three figures fill most of the compositional space, limiting voids, so that the viewer is invited to focus on the details and relationships between characters. Depth is suggested through positioning and chromatic variation, creating a temporal separation between past and present.
• Rhythm and Landmarks: The rhythm of the work is created through the repetition of hand positions and the visual alternation between monochrome and colored modules. The hands, placed in similar positions, create a continuous flow, suggesting the perpetuation of traditions and sacrifices across generations. The central landmarks are the faces, and the hands in the lower modules guide the eye in a vertical movement, from past generations to the young one.

This well-structured composition creates a sense of unity and continuity between generations, suggesting a subtle story about past, present, and future.

Associations and Inspirations

The work was influenced by Nicolae Grigorescu, Ștefan Luchian, and Nicolae Vermont, who in turn captured the essence of Romanian peasantry and rural life. Additionally, there is a subtle inspiration from social realism, through the way the worked faces and hands of the elderly are represented, a clear influence from the works of Ilya Repin.

Conclusion

Finally, the mastery with which the artwork “Roots and Wings” was created by artist Larisa Chindriș, which pays tribute to and honors the love for Romanian traditions, evokes the solemn pride we must have if we want to respect ourselves and the lineage from which we come.

Since the painting is a symbol that invites contemplation, it creates a sacred atmosphere and can encourage profound conversations, especially when placed in an area exposed to curious eyes, such as public institutions, consulates, companies, or luxurious residences.

The future owner of this piece will become a Cultural Patron who supports and promotes indigenous values. It is a title held by few people, but one that is highly appreciated in society.

This piece complements any refined space in which considerable investment has been made, being complementary to luxurious modern decor, which often impresses through simplicity and minimalism but does 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. This happens because the selected painting represents the owner and honors them in front of others. For paintings are among the few decorations that highlight the deep thoughts and emotions that an owner has and which, normally, must be revealed through long conversations. A well-chosen painting can do this in minutes. And it can continue this task for a lifetime, even longer, when we remember that this precious asset is passed down 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 “Roots and Wings” is suitable for you or that it conveys to you and others the feelings with which you identify, do not hesitate to call us to reserve it.

Ars Longa, Vita Brevis