Psalms 2009

Editor: We're looking at "Psalms," a 2009 drawing by Dmytro Kavsan. It's rendered in pencil, depicting figures in two distinct vignettes. I’m immediately struck by how much the simple line work conveys such raw emotion. What do you see in this piece? Curator: As a historian, I see these vignettes as reflections on human vulnerability within the landscape. The starkness of the medium, the lack of color, heightens a sense of alienation. Think about how figuration is historically used - often to celebrate power, or beauty. Here, we have a more exposed vision. Does this challenge our notions about the body's purpose? Editor: Definitely. The figures seem to be either struggling against something, or desperately seeking shelter. Is it trying to tell us that human condition is about resistance and faith, in this contemporary setting? Curator: Possibly. Kavsan's choice of 'Psalms' as the title encourages religious interpretation. We might think about Psalms not just as prayers, but as expressions of human emotions, from lament to praise. Kavsan is inviting a broader consideration about the public display of feelings through the imagery in 21st century. How do we engage and respond to these representations of emotion and human interaction? Editor: That makes me rethink my initial read as purely individual struggles. Seeing it as public expression changes everything. Curator: Precisely. Consider how contemporary drawing serves to show emotions, contrasting the cultural role that art assumes within the present world. Editor: This gives me a lot to think about – how a simple drawing can open up larger conversations about the individual, society, and our place within it. Thanks! Curator: My pleasure. Reflecting on this drawing with you highlights how contemporary artists negotiate this tension.