Water Lily Medallion

In Water Lily Medallion, Alvi Siren places a single crimson water lily at the centre of an intimate, eight-sided composition. Painted on an octagonal card panel, the flower opens against a deep field of blue and turquoise, its radial form echoed by the distinctive geometry of the support.

The bloom is constructed through layered petals in burgundy, crimson, magenta, and muted violet. Pale pink and white outer petals extend around the darker centre, creating flashes of light that sharpen the flower’s silhouette against the surrounding water.

At the heart of the lily, concentrated strokes of yellow and ochre form a luminous focal point. The petals gather closely around this centre before unfolding into broader, pointed shapes, giving the compact composition a strong outward rhythm.

The background shifts through cobalt, teal, blue-green, and violet. Broad, visible brushstrokes suggest the movement and depth of water without defining a literal pond or landscape. Subtle tonal variations surround the flower, allowing the bloom to appear suspended within the blue field.

The octagonal card panel is essential to the character of the work. Its eight edges enclose the flower like a medallion, while the substantial wooden frame reinforces the painting’s sculptural, self-contained presence. The unusual format turns the small floral image into an object designed for concentrated viewing.

Water Lily Medallion combines expressive colour with geometric framing. Through the contrast of crimson petals, luminous highlights, and enveloping blue, Alvi Siren transforms a floating flower into a vivid emblem of opening form, light, and still water.