Painting by Lana Korolievskaia

We Europeans definitely have a lot to learn from the Japanese. I have always been fascinated by the culture of this country, both from the outside point of view and content. Strength of character, perseverance, keeping their inner world closed from outsiders observers - from my point of view, these are the qualities that are inherent in the Japanese and determine all other aspects of them worldview. A separate principle that really inspires me is, of course, about the path of the samurai, devoid of a goal. To some extent, this painting is a symbolic self-portrait. In it I am a concentrated Japanese woman in her typical image, surrounded by the attributes of traditional culture. No matter how hard her soul is, this Japanese woman is calm, well-groomed and charming. A thick layer of makeup reliably masks all the storms of the soul. It seems that this makeup is not only physical, but also mental. The ability to remain calm, to shift attention to contemplating simple everyday things while maintaining feelings dignity is the message of this picture. Even dry ikebana branches were able to bloom with lush flowers.