Mosaics 1966

Curator: This is Hryhorii Havrylenko's "Mosaics," created in 1966. It’s a rather striking portrait in the mosaic medium. What's your initial impression? Editor: My first thought is stillness, almost a solemnity. The color palette feels quite muted, grounding the figure. The eyes draw me in—there's a sense of introspection or perhaps restrained defiance. Given its creation in 1966, one wonders what kind of societal pressures or personal narratives it may subtly reflect. Curator: The eyes are, indeed, captivating. Their shape and placement within the overall composition suggest a classic portrait format, reminiscent of Byzantine icons in a sense. Note how each individual tessera, though small, plays a vital role in creating depth and shadow. Look at the way the browns blend in her hair and the geometric shapes give life to her face. Editor: Right, I wonder, does the artist see her, or even intend to paint her as an icon? Is he elevating the status of women at all in his own cultural sphere? Mosaic, after all, isn’t just a medium, it's historically charged with religious and political significance. Could be an intriguing commentary of identity or gender within the soviet social and political landscape during that time, do you not think? Curator: Certainly a valid interpretation! It is the way the individual units come together, that brings to light a powerful whole and how they interact formally and visually. Havrylenko manages to create a sense of smooth contour and shadow transition with so much hard edged geometry. Notice how the blue tesserae that surround the subject create an isolating aura; an interior of the character in isolation. Editor: Precisely! By choosing mosaic, a medium associated with permanence and power, does the artist not implicitly imbue his subject with these qualities as well? So here in Havrylenko’s portrait, we're invited to see art not just as surface, or simply the portrait, but as a powerful commentary. What seemed like mere decorativeness may instead resonate deeper. Curator: Exactly! "Mosaics" provides rich aesthetic pleasure for any thoughtful viewer interested in engaging in an appreciation of technical ability and structural cohesion. Editor: Indeed, a small picture that opens up significant insights for the inquisitive listener and visitor.