Nero 2009

This striking painting was made by Andrey Remnev, though the date remains elusive. I can only imagine what it might have been like for Remnev when he made it. The artist has crafted a dreamlike scene, layering oranges and blues that evoke a sense of heat and water. The woman in the blue dress is the focal point, and the antelope behind her stare into the distance. I wonder, is she a goddess? The lizards at her feet make me think of Eve in the Garden of Eden. Painting is so much more than just applying colour to canvas, right? It's like Remnev has conjured this world using pigment, inviting us to explore our own interpretations and meanings. The more I look, the more I think he is in conversation with other artists and mythologies, too. I wonder what he'll create next?