Flowers, in full blossom, are a testament to the calming beauty nature provides. It's a long journey, with some flowers taking months to reach their final form. During this process, it takes a great amount of care to ensure its survival. Most require weeks of daily sunlight and a certain amount of water per day for it to grow. By the end of it all, you are greeted with the fragile beauty of these colorful plants for just a few days before wilting away. This beauty is well captured by Pampangan artist Mylene Quito in her ninth exhibit, "In Brevity of Bloom," featured at the Iris Gallery in Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo.

Taking inspiration from Japan’s serene landscapes and the delicate cherry blossoms, Mylene's latest work captures the essence of "mono no amare." "Mono no amare" translates to "the pathos of things" or "empathy toward things." This concept can be traced back to Japanese scholar Motoori Norinaga, who emphasized how there is a beauty in one's impermanence. For Mylene, spending time in Japan's tranquil gardens and temples helped deepen her appreciation for life's fleeting moments. This gentle appreciation can be seen through her floral artworks, each painted with vivid colors that can capture the eye from a mile away. Pointillism techniques also show the amount of careful attention it takes to show how vibrant nature can be when it reaches its fullest potential.

“My art pieces are a reflection of who I am, not just as an artist but as a wife, mother, and entrepreneur with multiple hats, “shares Mylene. “In Brevity of Bloom,” Mylene invites art collectors to explore and appreciate the ephemeral nature of beauty and life, using the fleeting bloom of flowers as a poignant reminder to cherish every moment, where the transient beauty of flowers mirrors life’s precious brevity.