Vinyl 2004

Arsen Savadov created this surreal painting "Vinyl" with an unsettling mix of the familiar and the bizarre. Savadov emerged as an artist during a period of political and social upheaval in Ukraine. His work often grapples with themes of identity, cultural displacement, and the search for meaning in a rapidly changing world. Here, zebras inhabit what appears to be an aristocratic parlour, surrounded by scattered vinyl records. The scene evokes a sense of dislocation. Vinyl records are attached to some of the animals which gives the scene a frenetic, dream-like quality. As they float around the room the records almost resemble winged creatures, which suggests a collision between the natural world and human culture. The painting reflects a society in transition. The juxtaposition of the zebras and the aristocratic setting underscores the tensions between tradition and modernity. The work explores themes of cultural identity and the search for belonging. In a world that often feels fragmented and chaotic, Savadov invites us to question the narratives we construct and the values we uphold.