The Flirting Minotaur is crucial to this story. Tanbouli presents a sensuous, flirty man-beast, welcomed into the arms of the woman as an equal, rather than the scary devouring being of myth or even the tragedy of George Frederick Watt's lonely Minotaur. This Minotaur is strong and kind, attractive, and effortlessly wears both his human and animal natures.

Warm and rich colours offer an autumnal sense to Paradise in „Golden Couple with a Dog“, „Dream Catcher“, „Black Gazal“, and „Utopia“, the warmth of summer sunsets giving way to the freshness of fall.  The images of the archetypal Couple with various animals (Cat, Dog, Ox, etc.) have a cooler palette.

These are influenced by grisaille, a method in which an image is created tonally, in shades of grey, to build up layers of shadow, highlight and contrast before adding colour in transparent glazes. Tanbouli's cooler tones evoke the clear light of morning or moonrise.

Ultimately, what all of these paintings portray is love, love as a desire for unity. Plants, humans, and animals are all interconnected. At all times, and in all seasons, Paradise is a place of endless delight.