Neighbourhood #13 2020

This is Pavlo Makov's print work, realised with etching technique. The arrangement of architectural forms here—the cross-shaped building, the rows of houses, and the circular structure—evokes a sense of imposed order, almost like a diagram of societal control. Consider the circle: a symbol reaching back to antiquity, representing wholeness and the cosmos. Yet, here, it's an enclosed structure, a prison-like arena. We see the circle appear again and again throughout history, from ancient amphitheaters meant for spectacle and control to the panopticons of the Enlightenment, where surveillance becomes the defining principle. This transformation reflects a shift in collective consciousness, where the promise of unity morphs into a tool of confinement. The diagrammatic line that stitches them together has a life of its own, suggesting flow, tension, and perhaps, the hidden currents that shape our world. The entire work conveys a sense of unease, a commentary on the structures that shape our lives, inviting us to reflect on the psychological impact of the built environment.