Street in Yalta 1971

Yuri Ivanovich Mezentsev carved 'Street in Yalta' in 1971. Look at how the artist has cut away at the block to create a landscape! It reminds me of Paula Modersohn-Becker, but with a harder edge. Imagine the physicality of carving the wood—the force and precision needed to translate a vision into sharp lines and tactile forms. Just like a painting practice, a carving practice is an embodied expression, an exploration through trial and error. Each cut contributes to the emotional and intellectual resonances of the work. Here you can almost feel the artist trying to make sense of a new place. How do you find your way? How do you depict a world, your world? The sharp contrasts create a powerful sense of depth, drawing you into a space where light and shadow dance. There’s an ongoing conversation here, a constant exchange of ideas across time, inspiring each other’s creativity.