Still-life with Indian masks and shoes 1977

Mariam Aslamazian made this painting, Still-life with Indian masks and shoes, with what looks like oil paint. The thick application gives everything a solid, sculptural feel. I can almost see her setting up this playful tableau, arranging each mask and shoe just so. The ochre, lilac, and brown palette is rich, but it’s the textures that grab me. Look at the way the paint is troweled onto the clay pot and masks, compared to the almost liquid quality of the fabric folds. Did she start with the masks? Maybe she wanted to paint them first, then found some shoes lying around. I love the directness of the gestures. You know, it reminds me a bit of Morandi, but with a folksy twist. It's like she's saying, “Here are some things that caught my eye. Let me share them with you.” I think there is a universal conversation that painters have, one where we pick up on what others have done, and transform it with our own sensibility.