Untitled 2019

This untitled work by Gennady Mironov presents a face emerging from a dense, verdant background, masked by a stark red band across the eyes. This immediately calls to mind the motif of blindness, a powerful symbol that traverses cultures. Consider how Oedipus, upon uncovering the truth, blinds himself, trading sight for insight. The red band here could signify a self-imposed limitation or a forced ignorance. The surrounding foliage, almost consuming the face, suggests a connection to nature, perhaps the wild, untamed aspects of the human psyche. This motif is reminiscent of the "wild man" archetype, embodying primal instincts and subconscious desires. Like a recurring dream, the image of the hidden face surfaces in various contexts. Its persistence speaks to a collective memory, a shared understanding of concealment and revelation. The mask obscures, yet it also highlights the act of seeing, or rather, not seeing. It evokes a powerful tension, engaging the viewer on a deep, subconscious level. The symbol of the obscured face continues its journey, resurfacing and evolving, reminding us that our understanding of such images is but a thread in the vast tapestry of cultural memory.