S.M. Garden 2019

Pavlo Makov made "S.M. Garden" with what looks like ink on paper, building up a world with delicate marks. It's like he's whispering a secret language onto the page, a language of textures and tiny forms. The surface is alive with detail; up close, you can almost feel the scratch of the pen, the soft give of the paper. The ink is applied in layers, building up a sense of depth and shadow. My eye's drawn to that swirling vortex in the center, a dense cluster of marks that seems to pull the whole composition inward. It’s so physical and yet so dreamlike. This piece reminds me of Piranesi’s architectural fantasies, where buildings become labyrinths, and every corner holds a surprise. Like Piranesi, Makov invites us into a world that’s both familiar and strange, a place where the imagination can take root and grow. It’s not about answers; it’s about the pleasure of getting lost in the question.