War: Rugs 2018

Małgorzata Serwatka created this painting, titled War: Rugs, with a somber palette and a jumble of garments and objects. I imagine the artist carefully arranging each item—the floral print fabric, the umbrella, the gloves—layering them, considering how they interact with the stark black backdrop, and that sharp red jagged line. I empathize with the challenge of capturing the folds and textures, the way the light hits each object differently. Is this an allusion to a lost domesticity? The discarded belongings evoke a sense of loss and displacement. It reminds me of Kurt Schwitters’ Merzbau, a personal and fragmented reconstruction amidst chaos. Or maybe it is a contemporary vanitas? Ultimately, Serwatka encourages us to reflect on the state of things, on the human condition, and on the potential for renewal amidst devastation. We all talk to each other, right across time.