Copperas 2010

Curator: This is Vasiliy Ryabchenko's "Copperas," created in 2010 using oil paints. What strikes you upon viewing this piece? Editor: An almost dreamlike, chaotic serenity. The contrasting use of vivid blues and earthy yellows sets a stage, while figures hint at a story just beyond grasp. There's a fascinating tension at play. Curator: Ryabchenko was very interested in depicting the intersections between myth and reality. Do you see echoes of those intersections reflected in his work here? And, of course, the making of the painting, what can we determine about his working methods? Editor: Absolutely. The way those ghostly figures interact with more solid geometric shapes—it feels like a visual representation of the subconscious. I wonder about the implications of presenting near-figurative forms in such an obviously constructed setting: there seems to be little attempt at naturalistic depiction. The texture suggests an impasto technique, with thick layers building dimension—though with varying pressures and palette knives for broad flat shapes. Curator: Indeed. I would note that Ryabchenko’s process, which, as you correctly observe, used thick layers, might reflect the influence of abstract expressionism on the social context from which he worked in the post-Soviet period. There is a very interesting challenge going on with Western art-historical categories. Editor: The canvas indeed reflects abstract expressionism, filtered through neo-expressionism, which adds to that dreamscape quality, even as there seems to be a sort of myth-building suggested. It makes one want to analyze the syntax of those visual building blocks that form meaning within this abstracted realm. Curator: Well, I agree entirely with you! I find I look at all art the same way after working here. How about you? Has your engagement with works of art such as this shaped your interpretation, even changing it after initial viewing? Editor: Definitely. The painting reveals how its formal devices contribute to something almost primordial—that's pretty amazing to think about. I come away thinking I glimpsed some hidden order or harmony to everything.