Still Life with Vase (Daruma)

This stylized still-life painting features a bouquet of exotic flowers in a ceramic blue and white vase with the calligraphic symbol for Harmony. At the base of the vase, curious birds mill around a porcelain teacup and a Daruma doll. Daruma dolls are iconic symbols of resilience and determination. These round, hollow, and limbless figurines represent the Buddhist monk Bodhidharma. They are used to set and visualize goals or wishes. When one sets a goal, they paint one eye of the Daruma doll. Once the goal is achieved, they paint the other eye in a symbolic act of completion. These charming dolls serve as reminders of the journey towards our aspirations and the importance of perseverance in the face of adversity.