Natali Antonovich’s artistic path is deeply intertwined with nature, spirituality, and the inevitable flow of time. Her work often emerges from simple but profound experiences, like a vivid moment she once described: “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 reflects Antonovich’s desire to explore themes of fleeting beauty and the delicate balance between the eternal and the transient. Her art is introspective and meditative, creating a space where viewers can dwell on the subtle interplay between presence and absence, permanence and change.
Eternity (Oil on linen canvas, 2003)
In her 2003 painting Eternity, part of the series bearing the same name, Antonovich delves into the idea of cyclical existence. She describes the piece as a journey: “being touched by a way, remembering yesterday, I am going forward, performing a circle. Your spark… is always with me.” The sense of repetition, of constantly moving forward while carrying the past, permeates the work.
The painting feels like a quiet meditation on continuity. The muted colors and soft, flowing brushstrokes create an atmosphere where the past and future converge into one present moment. The composition is intentionally gentle, inviting viewers to pause and engage in silent reflection. There’s no rush in Eternity; instead, it emphasizes the perpetual nature of time, offering a sense of calm even as it acknowledges the endlessness of the journey. This work is a thoughtful expression of how Antonovich captures both the tangible and the abstract in her exploration of the human experience.
Out of Time… (Oil on linen canvas, 2007)
Out of Time… from the 2007 series “Who are you?” explores the delicate balance between connection and separation. “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,” Antonovich says, hinting at the philosophical undercurrents that define this piece.
The painting is a study in contrasts. Warm, inviting hues mingle with cooler, more distant tones, creating a tension that mirrors the contradictions of proximity and detachment. The brushwork here is more structured than in her earlier pieces, suggesting a moment that feels suspended in time, yet somehow detached from it. The viewer is pulled into a world where time seems irrelevant, where people and emotions exist in a state of both presence and absence. Antonovich’s use of color and form in Out of Time… evokes a contemplative mood, asking the viewer to reflect on the fragility and fluidity of human relationships, and how we navigate the spaces between closeness and distance.
Diamond Lightning (Oil on linen canvas, 2020)
Returning to the Eternity series with Diamond Lightning in 2020, Antonovich explores the fleeting and powerful nature of transformation. The contrast in this painting is striking—bright whites and sharp blues crash against darker tones, creating a visual intensity that feels almost electric.
Diamond Lightning captures a moment of energy and clarity, reminiscent of lightning itself—brilliant but brief, illuminating everything in its path for just an instant before it fades. The title reflects the duality of a diamond’s hardness and lightning’s transience, underscoring the idea that moments of transformation are both rare and impactful. The bold, decisive brushstrokes give the piece a sense of urgency, as though the canvas itself is crackling with the energy of the moment it represents. This work, like much of Antonovich’s art, speaks to the ephemerality of life and the sudden bursts of insight that can change everything in an instant.
Across these three paintings—Eternity, Out of Time…, and Diamond Lightning—Antonovich weaves together themes of time, existence, and transformation. Her work invites quiet reflection, allowing viewers to sit with the tension between what is and what could be. Antonovich’s paintings capture fleeting moments of happiness, much like the orchid in her memory, always reaching for something more, always caught between presence and flight. Through her art, she creates a space where time slows down, and viewers are encouraged to contemplate their own experiences within the ever-turning wheel of life.
