Star 2011

Arsen Savadov’s “Star” is a painting that dives headfirst into the surreal, a world where the familiar is just slightly, wonderfully off. Look at the way Savadov handles paint, especially on that giant starfish; it’s like he’s building up layers, letting the colors mix and mingle right there on the canvas. There's a real physicality to it, you can almost feel the texture. The starfish itself feels like a metaphor for… well, who knows? But that's the beauty of it, right? The eye is drawn to the starfish’s legs with their little turquoise shoes, like it’s about to head off on a stroll. What I love about this piece is its willingness to embrace ambiguity, to suggest rather than dictate. It reminds me of Picabia, who knew how to make a painting that was both visually arresting and conceptually slippery. Both artists leave you with more questions than answers, which, let's be honest, is often the most interesting place to be.