Gulliver's Dream 2016

Arsen Savadov made this strange and wonderful painting, "Gulliver's Dream," using oil on canvas, and it feels like a story unfolding right before our eyes. Savadov's handling of paint is so intriguing here; it's not just about depicting something, but about building a world, layer by layer. The texture in this piece is amazing, from the smooth finish on Gulliver's skin to the rough, almost crusty quality of the landscape. It's like Savadov is inviting us to touch the painting, to feel the dream. Look at the way he renders those knots hanging in the air, each one is so carefully observed. What are they doing there? This detail reminds me of Magritte and his floating objects. Savadov, like Magritte, isn't just showing us a picture, he is constructing a puzzle. The soft focus of the background is really beautiful, the drips and spills remind us this is a painting and not an illustration, it is an ongoing conversation and exchange of ideas across time.