Bouyant 2018

Editor: This is "Bouyant," an acrylic on canvas painting by Timur Akhriev, created in 2018. It's such a striking portrait. The face is quite realistic, but then the body seems to dissolve into these abstract shapes and colors. What do you make of how the artist blends figuration and abstraction here? Curator: It’s a compelling juxtaposition, isn't it? Note how Akhriev uses impasto to build up a textured surface, creating a palpable tension between the recognizable portrait and the more ambiguous forms surrounding it. Consider the implications of this application. The composition pushes and pulls the eye in compelling ways, offering more than just an understanding of the human subject, wouldn’t you agree? Editor: I do. The palette is largely in the pinks and reds, but there are these splashes of turquoise that keep it from being too monotonous. Do you think the colour choice contributes to the buoyancy the title suggests? Curator: Undeniably. The strategic placement of these contrasting hues – what might be deemed ‘fauvist’ in nature – enlivens the surface and disrupts any predictable reading of the subject. Further to that, note how the directional application of paint around the eyes and mouth lead our focus. Can you feel what message he tries to push? Editor: I'd say it suggests both the groundedness and also the ephemerality of identity. So, a sort of push-pull again, like with the composition...it seems both grounded and freeing to dissolve like that! Curator: Precisely. Through considered brushwork and tonal arrangement, Akhriev prompts reflections on how the interplay between internal essence and external form contributes to our grasp on ‘self.’ Editor: This has been truly insightful. I will look into more works done through such lenses. Curator: Wonderful, every piece tells its own tale.