Luthier 2013

Timur Akhriev's Luthier is built from confident brushstrokes and a warm palette of reds, creams, and browns. Just looking at it, I imagine the painting emerging, stroke by stroke, like the slow unfurling of a melody. I wonder, what was Akhriev thinking as he built this image of a maker? Did he feel a kinship with the luthier, patiently coaxing a violin to life? I love the way the light catches the edge of the desk and casts shadows that dance around the room. It’s a messy space, full of half-finished projects and the tools of the trade, brought together by a series of rhythmic, short strokes. I love the way the warm colors are punctuated by sharp outlines and the strong verticals. The composition is a jumble of objects and musical ephemera. But it is unified by a warm tone and a sense of enclosure that makes me think of the artist alone in his studio. You know, artists are always in conversation with each other, picking up ideas, riffing on themes. And this painting—it feels like Akhriev is joining the band.