Tablecloth VIІ 2011

Pavlo Makov made "Tablecloth VIІ" with mixed media on paper, and it feels like a ghost of a meal. There's this beautiful, almost accidental quality to the marks, stains and repeated motifs like the forks and what look like tiny buildings. I’m interested in the way the artist makes use of repetition to create a sense of rhythm and structure. Look at the diagonal streaks of brown. It's like a stain from a forgotten gravy, but also a bold gestural stroke cutting across the calm surface. The subdued color palette and the textured surface contribute to the emotional weight of the piece. It reminds me a little of Kurt Schwitters, who also found beauty and meaning in the discarded and overlooked. Ultimately, the piece embraces a certain ambiguity, inviting us to find our own stories and interpretations within its delicate and evocative layers.