Kupkas Dog 2021

Editor: So, here we have Tania Rivilis's "Kupkas Dog," an oil painting from 2021. The first thing that strikes me is the use of color—that yellow juxtaposed with the dog's dark fur… It’s definitely a bold choice. How would you describe this piece? Curator: "Bold" is a great way to put it! I feel this certain quiet confidence radiating through it. Notice how the artist isn't afraid to let those brushstrokes sing—almost raw in places, especially in the background. What story do you think the color is trying to tell? Or is it purely visual? Editor: I see your point about the confidence and those visible strokes – a sort of directness to the method, huh? As for the colors… I guess it suggests a kind of emotional vibrancy that may contradict the almost sad look in their eyes. Almost like saying things aren’t what they seem. What’s your read on their expressions? Curator: Exactly! The yellow and the expression feel like two sides of the same coin, a little bit mischievous. To me, their gaze has depth; a whole lifetime reflected. Then there's the dog—it almost feels like a shadow, a secret. What do you make of the title: "Kupkas Dog?" Do you find any specific relationship with František Kupka in the imagery, such as color or composition, for example? Editor: That’s interesting! Now that you mention Kupka… I can see a connection perhaps through color, and in terms of emotional ambiguity… But there aren’t strong direct stylistic similarities. The title still hints at inspiration! Ultimately, it seems the title may serve more like an acknowledgment or nod, than as something direct. Curator: Yes, a hint rather than a loud declaration. But isn’t that fitting, in the way the subject avoids direct confrontation, meeting us but not entirely. This painting almost feels like catching a fleeting glimpse of someone's inner world. Editor: I completely agree. Looking closer at how she paints, it seems we were invited for just a brief, honest observation. That in itself is very precious.