Desire 1927

Mikuláš Galanda made this drawing, Desire, with ink, collage, and a whole lot of feeling! Can’t you just see Galanda there, shuffling things around, intuitively following his nose? There’s something so immediate and sensual about these ruby-red lips. They're collaged, set against the flatness of the page, and are so graphic, almost cartoon-like, but there’s this tension because they’re placed on a face that's so delicately drawn. Look closely – you’ll notice light pencil marks which give the face depth, and the eye… It almost feels like it’s following you. Then there’s the contrast with the abstract black form; is it a vase? A shadow? It's such a simple, elegant gesture, and it speaks volumes! Galanda was part of a generation trying to forge a new path, and you can see him in conversation with artists from all over the world. We all learn from each other, and remix each other’s ideas. What do you think Galanda was looking at? What does this artwork suggest to you?