Trust 

Editor: This is Konstantin Korobov's painting, "Trust," done with oil paint, but without a specified date. The piece stages a photorealistic depiction of what appears to be a P90 submachine gun against the backdrop of the European Union flag. The sharp detail and near-clinical depiction of the weapon, combined with the recognizable symbol of European unity, evokes a sense of unease, maybe even fear. What do you make of it? Curator: Focusing on the purely formal aspects, notice first the contrast. The artist’s meticulous rendering of textures and the almost hyperrealistic quality in depicting both the weapon and the flag serve to emphasize their symbolic weight. Consider the formal interplay between the rigid, geometric lines of the gun and the softer, more organic arrangement of the stars. Does that dichotomy generate some tension? Editor: Absolutely! The starkness of the gun contrasts violently against the symbol of unity and collaboration. The stars feel almost vulnerable beneath it. Do you think the artist intended to comment on the state of Europe? Curator: Interpretation is inevitable, but let’s not jump too fast. Before arriving at some interpretation, examine further how the colors reinforce this. The cool blues and grays of the background and weapon versus the warmer yellows of the stars… Does the color palette add another layer of visual and conceptual discord? Editor: I see what you mean. The yellows are almost pleading, cut across by that dark form. Considering the texture, especially how the brushstrokes add a tactile quality to the otherwise smooth gun... Maybe the artist is interested in a deeper relationship between the symbol of state and the tools of its power? Curator: Perhaps, but note how the formal composition invites a specific kind of close looking that transcends mere social critique. A truly striking convergence of form and... speculation. Editor: Thank you, I had never thought to examine how much form defines function like that. Curator: And, likewise, it reminds me of how easily analysis can collapse if one reads too literally. A useful challenge.