Untitled 1990

Curator: This bold piece, simply titled "Untitled," was created by Arsen Savadov in 1990 using mixed media, acrylic paint on canvas, bordering on mural-esque scale. Quite a statement! Editor: A statement indeed! My gut reaction? It feels like a fever dream, unsettling yet compelling. So much raw energy! A collision of symbols, maybe? Curator: That's astute. The painting layers figuration with raw abstract expressionism, blending graphic elements. Note the juxtaposition of the celestial crescent moon form opposite the monstrous face – a conflict between light and shadow? Editor: Absolutely. The formal structure relies on strong contrasts and stark delineation between zones—dark versus light, chaos versus control. Look at that intense, almost comic-book rendering of the creature's face. The red line that weaves and ends as a noose hangs precariously close... It introduces an almost suffocating claustrophobia into this wild panorama. Curator: Yes, that jarring juxtaposition of the stylized creature beside what appears to be a crumbling golden altar speaks volumes. Savadov’s background as a pioneer of Ukrainian New Wave definitely informs this provocative work. Editor: And yet, despite all this apparent darkness, or perhaps because of it, a peculiar sense of catharsis seems to permeate it. Maybe it’s the rawness of the execution? There is an intensity that doesn't leave much space for pretense, that creates authenticity and an appeal for something essential, primal. Curator: It is arresting, that’s for certain. Editor: It almost feels like a reflection on a society’s turbulent subconscious, articulated through the universal language of raw, emotive visual expression. There's much to interpret here... Curator: I agree wholeheartedly. Thanks to Arsen Savadov's boldness, our interpretation can be endless, evolving!