Young Tulip (colour insert from Abracadabra) 2020

Here we see Pavlo Makov's work, "Young Tulip," an oil on canvas that features a single tulip, its bud reaching towards a radiant sky. The tulip, historically, carries a complex symbolism. Once a symbol of wealth and status during the Dutch Golden Age, it is now reimagined in this landscape of what seems like ruins. This juxtaposition creates a powerful tension. The flower's upward growth symbolizes hope and regeneration, contrasting with the desolation below. The flower evokes Botticelli's Venus, a symbol of beauty emerging from chaos. It is a testament to the cyclical nature of life, death, and rebirth. The presence of ruins beneath the flower could evoke the transience of human achievements, urging us to reflect on how new life emerges, regardless of past destructions. This work taps into our collective memory, reminding us of the enduring power of nature and the cyclical patterns of history.