Shoes 2008

Editor: Here we have Arsen Savadov’s 2008 mixed-media piece, *Shoes*. It has a dreamlike quality, like a still life of a fantasy world. What are your first thoughts? Curator: Well, the mixed-media aspect is key. Savadov blends acrylic paint with what seems to be collage, creating a textured surface. I'm curious about the choice of materials – the juxtaposition of high-end fashion footwear against a painted natural landscape. Are those real flowers attached? It forces us to consider the relationship between consumption and nature. Editor: Yes, I see what you mean! The rainbow at the base of the shoes feels like an artificial addition. Are you suggesting that it is commenting on the means of production? Curator: Exactly! The hyper-feminine footwear, with its ornate floral additions and iridescent coloring, likely mass-produced. Then observe the labor: the process of the artist carefully crafting each hummingbird, juxtaposing them against these consumer items. What is the difference between the making of the sandals and painting of hummingbirds? Is Savadov placing these into different classes or economies? Editor: That’s such a sharp point! The attention to detail on the flowers attached to the sandals compared to the rest of the scene gives such an odd contrast. So he is emphasizing labor? Curator: Precisely. It begs the question: Where does the 'art' truly lie in our capitalist landscape? In the mass-produced 'shoe', the natural yet equally transient flowers and insects, or in Savadov's process itself? And furthermore: Who's labour counts and how? Editor: This has given me a whole new appreciation for his artistic intention behind the work. Thanks! Curator: Indeed. Considering materials, means and modes of production, alongside the socioeconomic climate allows a deeper connection with an artists practice.