Parlament Lights 2005

Curator: Arsen Savadov created this work, “Parlament Lights”, in 2005, likely employing oil paint and perhaps spray paint, on a mural scale. It seems like this blends portraiture with contemporary techniques. Editor: It's haunting, that's what it is. Those huge faces looming, partially lit. The almost aggressive brushstrokes, you can see the texture and you are not sure whether to fear it or see a weird dream. And the lamp; feels like some sort of theatrical lighting, you know? A character spot. Curator: Well, consider the means of its production. Murals often require teams and significant preparation, especially when combined with oil paint, it raises questions about accessibility, location, and labor. Editor: Definitely, there is an almost film noir quality to these painted faces. I see stories, political dramas maybe, and the materiality gives the sense that this might be something crumbling in a strange room that I've known and forgotten in the past. It’s intriguing but also unsettling. Curator: Right. This work subverts traditional notions of art as an individual pursuit by emphasizing the potential of mural art within public or semi-public spaces, think about the effect of such a massive piece. The consumption and viewing habits of passersby. Editor: Absolutely, but this lamp stuck in the middle...it almost personalizes this art with an added odd domestic vibe as if something of Savadov is also on display, an added bit that he actually did by hand, instead of delegating or organizing it on such a scale. Curator: Interesting, but the use of common industrial materials in service of figuration is central here. High art versus craft. Oil paintings and spray cans: a dialogue emerges about artistic intention in a consumer-driven environment. Editor: This conversation itself creates tension that mirrors the feelings those faces bring to mind. Savadov made a powerful comment on the weight and strangeness of political visibility and our own intimacy.