Composition (Self-portrait) 1964

This self-portrait, made with watercolor by Hryhorii Havrylenko, seems to emerge organically, a process of feeling and intuition guiding each color block. It's about the act of seeing, not just what is seen. The texture is smooth, with washes of color laid bare. The transparent quality of the watercolor allows the paper's surface to shine through, creating a luminous effect. I keep coming back to the head, that central form outlined in pale pink. It's both present and absent, solid and dissolving. There's an openness here, a willingness to embrace uncertainty. It reminds me of work by Forrest Bess. Both artists seem unafraid to delve into the depths of their own psyches, using art as a means of exploration and self-discovery. Ultimately, Havrylenko invites us to see ourselves reflected in its fragmented, yet strangely whole, image.