Inspiration - Flower Engulfed in Snake
Flower Engulfed in Snake… what an odd title for a piece of art, right?
I had initially thought of naming it Snake or Fidi (which means snake in Greek) but something about the idea of the snake engulfing a flower was too important for me to leave out of the title.
This colorful design holds a very special place in my heart, as I made it in honor of the birth of my little girl. It took me months of research to decide that this was the motif that encapsulated how I felt as an expectant mother awaiting her arrival.
The original Greek folk motifs come from a very famous piece of embroidery from the island of Skyros.
The Symbolism
The design has three key elements - a magnificent tulip, a vase at the base of the flower and a snake engulfing them both.
The vase at the lower part of the flower is a symbol of longevity and the lifegiving source due to the water it contains.
From the vase, the most spectacular tulip blooms in all its glory, symbolizing the new life that is beginning.
Around them both a snake that engulfs and protects them. The snake has been traditionally used in Greek folk embroidery as a strong protective symbol and can often be found as a motif on garments worn by pregnant women and babies.
Out of the archives…
The idea of bringing a motif “out the archives” for me means highlighting how its message is still relevant today and how we all have experienced similar emotions or thoughts like the ones expressed by those motifs.
In the case of the Flower Engulfed in Snake motif, I feel there was a need to ensure that something new and fragile needed to be protected to allow it to exist and flourish.
What would be something or someone you feel the need to protect?
It’s so special to you that you would go to great lengths to make sure no harm comes its way.
Those were the thoughts that were going through my mind as an expectant mother for the new life that was growing inside me.
Back then, I was physically protecting my baby, but I knew that the time would come where I would no longer be able to do that and there was a very primal need for me to ensure she would be safe and well.
I feel that this design is more than art; it's a wish, a talisman as well as a celebration of new beginnings.
I hope it will remind you of the possibilities that come when embracing new adventures.
P.S. 1 The first image shows how I incorporated the design on placemats made for my daughter’s Christening. I wanted to make sure that this story was shared with our family.
P.S. 2 The image below shows a one-off wooden plate I hand drew and offered as my very first giveaway!
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