Our Vegetable 1979

Mariam Aslamazian’s painting ‘Our Vegetable’ is a celebration of oil paint, canvas, and of course, the fruits and vegetables so artfully arranged. The thick, textured application of paint gives the composition a wonderful vitality. Look closely, and you can see how each brushstroke contributes to the form and color of the produce: eggplants, corn, and bell peppers rendered with an almost tactile quality. This way of applying the medium, impasto, is not just a technical choice. It's a physical act that emphasizes the inherent qualities of the paint, its weight, color, and the way it captures light. Aslamazian masterfully engages with a still life tradition, elevating the everyday and mundane into a realm of aesthetic pleasure. This approach resonates with the broader social context, especially in Soviet Armenia where Aslamazian lived and worked. The painting acts as a reflection of the society's emphasis on labor, production, and the bounty of the earth. It's a testament to the fact that art can find profound meaning in the simplest of subjects, elevating the craft of painting to a form of cultural expression.