Decorative Plate Between the Fountains near the Palace of Culture 'Chemist' in Dniprodzerzhynsk (now Kamianske) 1971

This is a decorative plate made between the fountains near the Palace of Culture ‘Chemist’ in Dniprodzerzhynsk, now Kamianske, by Valerii Lamakh. I look at these carefully placed tesserae, each a tiny little decision, and I can’t help but think about what the artist was trying to evoke: the grand tradition of ancient mosaics, perhaps? The circles and squares could be read as an evocation of nature: cells dividing, planets orbiting, or maybe just the play of light on water. I wonder, as Lamakh laid down each tiny piece, did he think about the endless possibilities each color choice presented? Did he consider, like me, the way in which these subtle shifts in hue and tone could alter the viewer's experience? It is fascinating how the simple act of arrangement can create a dialogue, a silent conversation between the artist and the viewer, mediated by the language of shape, color, and form. Each mosaic becomes an echo of artists across time, an invitation to think about painting as a kind of conversation.