Autumn Pond 

Editor: This is David Burliuk’s "Autumn Pond," and from what I can see, it looks like it was created in 1954. I find it so captivating how the scene is almost dreamlike and idyllic. How would you interpret this work? Curator: This piece offers us an opportunity to consider the intersection of nature and national identity, particularly thinking about Burliuk's background as a Ukrainian artist who later emigrated. The vibrant colours, though seemingly idyllic, might also subtly echo the emotional complexities of displacement and belonging that marked the immigrant experience, wouldn’t you agree? Editor: That's such an interesting way to frame it! I was really caught up in the pure aesthetics of the painting that I didn't consider its social and emotional layers. Is there a link between his expressionistic style and his feelings on leaving his home country? Curator: Absolutely! His impasto and use of color don't just depict the scenery; they convey a felt sense of place. I wonder, how much do you think his experience shaped his choice of painting en plein air, a practice deeply rooted in a direct, unfiltered experience of the environment? Could it be read as an act of claiming or remembering a sense of home, or perhaps of creating a new one? Editor: It gives me so much to think about – how even the choice of medium and method can speak volumes about an artist’s journey! Thank you. Curator: My pleasure. I hope that you can think more deeply about his practice and explore its possible layers.