Natali Antonovich’s artistic journey is rooted in her connection to nature, spirituality, and the movement of time. Her work is often inspired by simple yet impactful moments, like a vivid memory she once shared: “There was a beautiful Orchid growing in my room. Flowers seemed to fly up from its branched roots, like little birds or stars… I saw how they wanted to fly… but they were held by a thin, strong stem. One day, I see a withered flower falling off its stem… Then I thought that the flower’s dream had come true, ‘flight only after death.’ Then I wanted to paint a picture… about a moment of happiness.”
This memory speaks to Antonovich’s fascination with the fleeting nature of beauty and the delicate balance between what endures and what fades. Her paintings offer a quiet space for reflection, where viewers can explore the relationships between presence, absence, and the passage of time.
Eternity (Oil on linen canvas, 2003)
In Eternity, a painting from her “Eternity” series, Antonovich explores the idea of cyclical existence. She describes the piece as a journey forward while holding onto the past: “being touched by a way, remembering yesterday, I am going forward, performing a circle. Your spark… is always with me.” The sense of continuous movement, of looping back while pushing ahead, permeates this work.
The painting invites a sense of calm, using soft tones and gentle brushwork to evoke the feeling of time slowly turning in a never-ending cycle. It’s a meditative piece, offering viewers a moment to pause and consider the endless nature of existence. The subtle blending of the past and the future creates a timeless atmosphere, a space where moments overlap and merge.
Out of Time… (Oil on linen canvas, 2007)
Out of Time…, from Antonovich’s 2007 series “Who are you?”, delves into the tension between connection and distance. “We are near and we are far and it has always been like this… There is no time… and we are and we are not,” she says, pointing to the philosophical layers that shape this piece.
The painting plays with contrasts—warm, welcoming hues are set against cooler, more detached colors. This duality gives the work a dynamic feel, where relationships are explored through opposing forces of closeness and separation. Antonovich’s brushstrokes are more defined here, creating a structured moment that feels frozen, yet untethered from time. The result is a painting that invites viewers to reflect on the nature of human relationships and the fluctuating spaces between intimacy and distance.
Diamond Lightning (Oil on linen canvas, 2020)
With Diamond Lightning, part of the Eternity series painted in 2020, Antonovich captures a moment of sharp intensity. The stark contrast of brilliant whites and vivid blues set against darker tones gives the painting an immediate, electric energy.
Diamond Lightning feels alive with movement, like a flash of lightning illuminating the sky for just an instant before it disappears. The title itself reflects this duality—combining the enduring strength of a diamond with the fleeting nature of lightning. The urgency in Antonovich’s brushwork mirrors this theme, making the canvas crackle with a sense of immediacy. It’s a powerful exploration of life’s brief but transformative moments, where clarity comes in an instant, only to fade as quickly as it arrived.
Across these three paintings—Eternity, Out of Time…, and Diamond Lightning—Antonovich weaves together a thoughtful exploration of time, existence, and change. Her art invites viewers to sit quietly with the tension between permanence and impermanence, offering a space for contemplation. Like the orchid in her memory, Antonovich’s works capture the beauty of fleeting moments, always striving for something more, yet bound to the present. Through her work, she creates a timeless environment, encouraging reflection on our own journeys through the ever-turning wheel of life.
