Field of variants 2013

Dragan Ilić Di Vogo made this painting, “Field of Variants,” with what looks like oil on canvas. I love how the artist uses this muted palette, almost like a faded photograph, giving the whole piece a dreamlike quality. The butterflies, some crisp, some like ghosts, are scattered as though an afterimage. This makes me think about the process of painting, that things come and go, get covered over, or linger. The artist hasn't over-blended and left some areas raw and scratchy. Look closely at the figure's face. It's painted with incredible detail, but then fades into the background. The way the artist makes the figure both present and dissolving is exciting and creates this weird tension. It’s like Philip Guston said, ‘I got sick and tired of all that purity!’ – it's not about being perfect, but about embracing the mess. This piece reminds me of Paula Rego, someone who also uses surreal figurative elements, making it unsettling. Art's not about one answer, it's about a conversation, a constant back and forth, a field of endless variants.