WEDDING GYPSIES 2016

Babak-Matveev's "Wedding Gypsies," made in 2014, feels like an explosion of color and joy. It is like a folk tale dreamed up in the digital age. I can imagine the artist piecing this together, bit by bit, like a collage of memories and fantasies. The vibrant pinks, reds, and blues leap out, clashing and harmonizing in equal measure. There's a sense of abundance, a celebration of life in all its messy, imperfect glory. Look at the way the figures are adorned with flowers and trinkets! It is as if the artist is saying, "More is more!" It reminds me a bit of Rousseau's dreamscapes but with a contemporary twist. There is a sense of whimsy, but also a deep respect for tradition and cultural identity. This piece reminds us that art is a conversation, a way of connecting with others across time and space. It's a reminder to embrace the unexpected and find beauty in the everyday.