Untitled 

Curator: Immediately, I’m struck by the layering and the rawness. It's like peering into a vibrant, visual diary—emotional and maybe a little chaotic? Editor: Agreed. This untitled piece by Hannibal Alkhas, made using mixed media, is like a fascinating excavation of collective and individual memories. Look at how figuration intertwines with elements suggesting narrative, dreamscapes and portraits. It resonates with stories waiting to be unfolded. Curator: You're so right about the "excavation" feel! The blocks of imagery feel like archaeological strata, each layer revealing a different narrative fragment. What about that dream-like scene at the very top, almost like a frieze, a figure amongst horses? I keep wondering how literally we’re supposed to take it all, though. Editor: The horses, figures and rider motifs are rich with cultural resonance across civilizations. Often, horses signify power, freedom, and virility, and these particular renditions could evoke ancient cavalry traditions and mythic journeys. And of course, the horse can represent untamed instincts, dreams… Maybe that upper scene is about unleashing subconscious narratives? Curator: Mmm, untamed instincts... Alkhas’ use of color contributes to that wildness. Those deep blues and the bloody reds… It isn't comforting. There's tension in the piece. Does that make sense, from an iconographic perspective? Editor: Absolutely. Color choices alone communicate. Think of red’s association with life force, blood, and passion clashing against a sky’s blue, offering hints of serenity yet perhaps overshadowed. And look closely. Do you notice any repeated visual elements? They could signify recurring themes within his larger body of work and maybe speak to the artist’s own grappling. Curator: I’m drawn to the faces scattered throughout; they don’t quite meet your gaze, they seem introspective. What is that pulling us toward, you think? Editor: The portrait, the rider, the animal: these images serve as bridges linking internal psychological experiences with cultural stories over long periods. They may explore enduring qualities of spirit, and our attempts to see our truest nature in symbols of ancient power and myth. It allows the audience to interpret not just what they’re seeing, but their own connection to images with staying power. Curator: Beautifully said. I suppose it is ultimately about feeling invited to create your own map with what is on the canvas, instead of reading the artist's. Editor: Right—as time touches all the meanings here—artist, work, viewer—it changes, morphs, gets redefined. And maybe, we’re lucky to become another one of its details.