Tell Me The Story!

Tell Me a Story!, 2021, acrylic on canvas, 120x140cm, Certificate of Authentication.

 

The painting is dominated by Neapolitan yellow and gray colors. This part is responsible for the current time in which every person on the planet is, for the state of uncertainty and the impossibility of breaking out of this uncertainty. Therefore, the earth is presented like a labyrinth or cobweb, turning into an endless landscape that extends beyond the horizon. Nevertheless, a certain intimacy of the image is felt in the painting due to the attributes of the interior—the floor, the door. There is a red plastic chair on the left in the corner. This is a symbol of the house. The color speaks of anxiety, as people are forced to live in isolation, and it is not known how long this will last. The plastic material gives the impression of the temporality of what is happening. 

In the center of the painting, there is a portal to another space, which is responsible for our memory. We cannot travel freely as we used to. But the memories of the most pleasant moments of our former life help us to get through these rough couple of time. In my case, it is a memory of the Greek island of Santorini, which gives hope that it will be just as happy in the future.

A green cat emerges from the portal. This cat is the only element in the picture that glows fluorescent in neon lighting. This is an internet meme that is responsible for communication with the rest of the world. 

Besides the Internet, everyone has their own cultural background. What they read in books and saw in museums, music that they listened to, movies and performances that they watched. The silhouette of antique Venus is responsible for this background in the painting—a symbol of human cultural and historical knowledge. Culture, art have become the strongest amulets of humanity.

On days when a person was more housebound, he/she had more time for self-education and creativity. 

It is no coincidence that the silhouette of Venus seems to be woven from moving streams, since neither art nor science stands still. Even if a person is forced to stay within four walls.

I think that the time of self-isolation was good for humanity. This is the time of creative breakthroughs in science and art. The pineapple on the portal wall is a symbol of creativity and innovation.

 

The title of the Tell Me a Story! is also not by chance. It is an appeal to the only permanent connection with the world outside the home. The Internet has become the main source of education, work, virtual exhibitions and travel, inspiration for the creative person.

I wanted to convey to the viewer a sense of the strangeness of what is happening, but, at the same time, to give hope and to show the way where a person can self-actualize—in art. 

Therefore, the painting looks optimistic.

 

The style of the Italian metaphysicians, such as Giorgio de Chirico—my last passion, was ideal for the implementation of the plan.

Tell Me a Story! participated in the International Exhibition of Visual Artists and the 5th London Art Biennale.