SOLOHA 2016

SOLOHA by Babak-Matveev was made in 2014 using... well, who knows exactly, but it looks like a mixture of photography and painting to me. The whole thing is a riot of colour; a real celebration of folk art traditions. I love how the artist isn't afraid to pile it on, there's a real sense of abundance and joy in the way they handle the materials. Take the rooster for example, look how meticulously the artist has rendered the rooster's feathers, capturing the intricate patterns and textures with precision and care. You get a real sense of the artists love for the subject, the colours and textures are amazing. This picture reminds me of the work of Red Grooms. There’s a similar sense of humour and playfulness, and a shared interest in taking traditional subjects and messing with them. Ultimately, art is about exploring possibilities, embracing ambiguity, and recognizing that there's always more to discover.