Composition 1967

Hryhorii Havrylenko made this watercolour, Composition, sometime in 1967. The whole picture seems to be made up of individual marks, like separate thoughts all clustered together. It's so light and airy with bluey-grey rectangles hovering on the surface. The way Havrylenko has used the watercolour makes the image feel like it's breathing. Look at the texture of the paper peeking through the translucent paint! It's almost like a minimalist seascape, with these quiet, subtle gestures creating a serene, contemplative space. Then bam! This orange circle - the sun - a bold, almost defiant, focal point amidst all the subtlety. It reminds me a little of Agnes Martin's grids, that same meditative quality, but with a warmer, more human touch. Ultimately, Havrylenko shows us that art is not about answers, but about embracing the questions, the uncertainties, and the beauty of multiple perspectives.