To Maria Priymachenko 2009

Arsen Savadov made this painting, To Maria Priymachenko, as an homage to the work of another artist. I imagine that the painting came into being through a process of layering and juxtaposition. Savadov is collaging together all these different figural elements. He's got flora, fauna, people, and architecture, a kind of surreal, dreamlike space. I sympathize with the artist here because there are so many voices! I wonder, when he was making this painting, if he was thinking about the way that Priymachenko used vibrant colors and bold patterns to create fantastical creatures and scenes? He's playing with the way that folk art traditions can be reinterpreted and remixed in a contemporary context. The textures, the colors, the layering of images – it's all so rich and evocative. Artists are always in conversation with each other across time. Savadov is using Priymachenko's work as a jumping-off point for his own creative explorations. Painting allows for multiple interpretations and meanings.