Amazonka 2007

Andrey Remnev made "Amazonka" using a muted, reddish-brown palette that feels both antique and a little unsettling. It's a painting about layers, literally and figuratively, and I see the making of it as a careful, thoughtful process. Look at how the figure holds the tapestry, how the colour of it merges with the background in a clever act of trompe-l'oeil, it's like she's stepping out of a classical frieze. The paint is applied in thin, transparent layers, creating a smooth surface that almost feels like a fresco. It’s hard to tell what kind of brushes Remnev used, and it seems like he’s intentionally obscuring his process, aiming for an almost photographic finish. Remnev’s work reminds me of Balthus, especially in the way he portrays young women with a mix of innocence and knowingness. But unlike Balthus, there’s a dreamlike quality to Remnev’s paintings, where time seems to stand still and stories unfold in a realm between reality and myth. Ultimately, “Amazonka” is a reminder that art is an ongoing dialogue across centuries, always open to interpretation and reimagining.