Stilyaga 2016

Babak-Matveev gave us 'Stilyaga' at some point in the 21st century, and it feels like a digital collage where dreams and thrift-store finds collide. The artist seems to be throwing everything they can at the image, unafraid of clashes or visual overload, trusting that a certain kind of harmony will emerge through the chaos. Up close, the image buzzes with color and texture. The brushstrokes may be digital, but the impulse feels painterly – look at the way the green jacket clashes against the purple shirt! And how the man's pants puddle around his feet like a stagnant pool – all of this creates a strangely compelling tension. It’s like he’s saying, “Why choose when you can have it all?” You know, it puts me in mind of David Hockney – that same love of saturated color, and a similar playful sensibility that doesn’t take itself too seriously. 'Stilyaga' is a reminder that art is always a conversation, a remix of ideas and influences that keeps evolving with each new voice.