Construction (Under Each Shadow Lies a Drama) 1970

Vasile Dobrian made this painting, Construction (Under Each Shadow Lies a Drama), sometime during his career using what looks like acrylic on canvas. I am drawn to the flatness of the forms. The shapes are distinct with their own character, and there is a lovely interplay of red, yellow, green, and black that creates a sense of depth and tension. Look closely at the overlapping yellow circle and square; this translucent effect is achieved through layering, which adds a temporal dimension to the work. It’s as if Dobrian is showing us the history of the painting itself, a record of decisions and revisions. I see echoes of early modernists like El Lissitzky in Dobrian’s work, particularly in the use of geometric abstraction as a means of exploring social and political ideas. But what sets Dobrian apart is his willingness to embrace ambiguity and to leave room for multiple interpretations.