Exit 1 2021

Editor: So, this is Pavlo Makov’s "Exit 1," a 2021 etching. It feels almost like a blueprint of a decaying cityscape, very geometric and schematic. I'm intrigued by how he visualizes this "exit." What jumps out at you when you see it? Curator: The image speaks to me of transitions, especially within the context of urban spaces. Given Makov’s Ukrainian background, and this piece being created relatively recently, it's impossible not to view it through the lens of socio-political upheaval and the ongoing crisis. The repetition of these building forms connected by lines resembles not just a map, but a flow chart of societal movement, or perhaps even displacement. Do you see any hints of criticism within this depiction of urban space? Editor: Definitely, there's a sense of constraint in that mapping. These architectural modules appear increasingly dilapidated as the 'exit' route progresses, like the promise of progress is ironically breaking down. Are these decaying structures a commentary on certain sociopolitical systems? Curator: Absolutely, Makov often engages with architectural and urban themes to reflect upon broader socio-political conditions. The structured, almost bureaucratic, layout contrasts starkly with the degradation of the buildings, possibly critiquing rigid systems that fail to provide or maintain habitable spaces. Think of the large-scale, often sterile, Soviet-era urban planning - could this be a subtle critique of its legacy? Editor: That's a perspective I hadn't considered, very interesting! Seeing it as a commentary on societal decay stemming from rigid systems really shifts my understanding of the work. Curator: And that is why art is important: the potential for new ways to look at it over time.