Commedia dell'Arte in Crimea 2012

Arsen Savadov made this photograph, Commedia dell'Arte in Crimea, and there's a theatrical, almost dreamlike quality to the scene that unfolds before us. The photograph is awash in a sea of textures and surfaces: the smooth skin of the figures, the rough rocks, the foamy waves, and the shark jaws with colourful teeth. Each element contributes to the emotional resonance of the artwork. The contrast between the artificial, constructed elements and the natural landscape creates a sense of unease. Look, for instance, at the shark jaws and the teeth with its colourful edges. The costumed figures and the unsettling presence of the shark create a sense of ambiguity. We're left to ponder the relationships between the characters, the symbolism of their costumes, and the underlying meaning of this enigmatic tableau. Savadov, like contemporary artist Jeff Koons, seems to embrace this ambiguity and allows for multiple interpretations.