Chosen Screens 1997

Sašo Vrabič's painting, *Chosen Screens*, captures the drama of power and submission. The dark figure adjusting the young man’s cap evokes a ritual of induction, heavy with implication. The gesture of adjusting a cap echoes across time, reminiscent of crowning ceremonies or even the donning of a helmet before battle. Consider how such an act, meant to prepare or transform, appears in ancient reliefs and Renaissance portraits alike. In each instance, the head becomes a site of symbolic importance. But observe here the unease in the young man's face, a stark contrast to the ceremonial grandeur it mimics. This discomfort reminds us that symbols are never static. Their meanings evolve, shaped by the fears and aspirations of each new era. The artist exposes the psychological weight of these symbols, engaging our collective memory of authority and control. A chilling effect to ponder over.