Homesickness was immortalized in a mural, over 1000 square meters, at the entrance to the city of Cahul, thanks to the "For Cahul, through Art" project, in 2022 with the financial support of the Cahul City Hall. The image is a tribute brought by the natives of Cahul to their birthplace, parents and longing for their loved ones, nation and heritage. The painter Alexei Luca worked for five months to reproduce the beauty of his native land, the kindness of the people and the traditions of the south of the Republic of Moldova. For the creation of the work, he used more than half a ton of paint.
Alexei Luca: "There are several painting sequences, which are connected, this whole painting, which goes through all the sequences up to the hill. I miss the emotions I had as a child. Every man, no matter how old he is, he turns into a child, watching some sequences."
Located at the entrance to the municipality of Cahul, the painting greets the natives and visitors with that vague and warm feeling that they have arrived home. Although home has a different meaning for each person, the sequences in the painting cause a real longing. I miss my childhood and the antics of that time, I miss winter and warm bread, I miss traditions..
The old tradition of meeting a stranger with bread and salt means creating a lasting bond and friendship which demonstrates the hospitality of the Cahulens. The guests of the municipality are greeted with bread and salt, where bread is associated with hospitality, being the most respected food, while salt is the symbol of friendship.
Hora de la Cahul is a traditional dance that gathers everyone in a circle where everyone holds hands regardless of religion. All tied in a circle spin to the rhythm of the dance and the style of the region showing the love of the country. In Cahul, besides the chorus, music and folklore have a special place. The dance is accompanied by musical instruments such as tambourine, accordion, viola, violin, saxophone, trumpet which are the main element of transmitting emotions. The water lilies that float on the lakes are the representative symbols of the region that grow in the "Prutul de Jos" nature reserve.
Similarly, the water lilies symbolize the mineral and healing waters with unique properties, thanks to which the region is famous. The originality of each people is characterized by the creative potential in which the expression in material and spiritual culture is identified. Folk crafts occupy a special place for Cahuleni in this culture. The crafts that represent our region are: baking bread, choosing carpets and embroidering costumes, making ceramic dishes, willow and straw braids that still ensure the continuity of our race.
The painting ends with the logo of the Cahul region, represented by a heart as a symbol of the love of life of the Cahul people. The life path of each of us is different, with different destinies. After all, passing childhood we are spent in the big world where we will each face a battle of our lives, away from home and homesick.
