Amaranthine Print

Sensitization to external “happy” stimuli is a modern risk factor that impairs our ability to handle the variability in our emotions. Our incessant quest for momentary pleasures despite being aware of their transient nature not only contributes to the continual increase in our initial surge in happiness, but also intensifies the emptiness one feels once the effects of the stimulus begin to wane. When we receive a floral bouquet as a gift, our current state of emotion is overlaid by instant happiness. However, this feeling is short-lived, just like the brief shelf-life of cut flowers. Amaranthine refers to the unfading and everlasting quality of an imaginary flower. Through this painting, I wished to highlight the importance for identifying a model that captures the essence of happiness in its most enduring form. Appreciating short-term as well as long-term affective states in happiness and being able to celebrate isolated moments of happiness without wishing their permanence are skills both required to adhere to such model, as well as the ability to acknowledge that not even a painting holds the power to keep transient beauty at its most attractive stage.