Neighbourhood #7 2018

Pavlo Makov's "Neighbourhood #7" presents us with an intricate urban plan, etched with lines that suggest both connection and confinement. The symbol of the grid, so dominant here, has ancient roots. Think of the Roman city plans, or even earlier Mesopotamian layouts; this impulse to organize space, to impose order, speaks to a fundamental human desire to control our environment and our destiny. Yet, in Makov's rendering, this order feels almost oppressive. The buildings, uniform and repetitive, evoke a sense of alienation, a loss of individuality within the collective. Consider how the idea of the city plan evolves. From the utopian visions of Renaissance architects to the stark realities of modern urban sprawl, the grid can represent both progress and dehumanization. The collective memory of urban living, of both its promises and its pitfalls, is embedded within this image, stirring a subconscious unease. It is this tension, between order and chaos, connection and isolation, that engages us on such a deep, psychological level. The motif has resurfaced, evolved, and taken on new meanings in different historical contexts.