Tablecloth IV 2009

Pavlo Makov created "Tablecloth IV," which is an evocative dance of marks and stains, creating a sense of intimacy with the artwork. I imagine Pavlo bending over the large sheet, coaxing out each smudge and spill like a cartographer charting unknown territory. There’s a real push and pull between the image and its surface. The cutlery hovers in each corner as if holding it down and keeping it in place. What were they like to draw? The stains and marks are not just traces of spillage, but also guides to our emotions. Makov engages in a quiet conversation with the history of painting, echoing the sensibilities of arte povera. The act of mark-making is so exposed here. Painters create a space for contemplation, inviting us to ponder the transient nature of our daily rituals. And they invite us to imagine the countless stories that unfold around a simple tablecloth.