Still Life. Water 2009

Editor: Here we have Dmytro Kavsan's "Still Life. Water" from 2009, executed in oil paint. There’s something so dreamlike about this composition, with its odd juxtaposition of classical still life elements and fantastical creatures. How do you interpret this work? Curator: Well, viewing it through a historical lens, this painting engages with several established genres but in a distinctly contemporary way. We see echoes of Dutch Golden Age still life paintings with their arrangements of objects, but those are placed within an uncanny tableau. The inclusion of fantastical elements like fairies and mermaids disrupts our sense of time and place, doesn't it? Consider how these motifs might reflect contemporary anxieties and fascinations with escapism in the face of global events, perhaps even commenting on ecological concerns given the focus on "water". What societal role might surrealist art serve? Editor: That’s a really interesting point about escapism. I hadn’t considered it as a reaction to specific events, but that makes sense given the dreamlike quality. I initially thought it was just decorative, but you’re making me think about its potential commentary. Curator: And that begs the question, to whom does the fantasy appeal and why? Perhaps those ethereal figures signal something about collective desires and societal structures. I am particularly interested in the political symbolism behind this piece: what power does water hold over human society, or how does it sustain society? What do you notice when you focus on one object or color within the image? Editor: Focusing on the figures around the vase…there’s this sense of fragility, of them being almost trapped in a luxurious, yet precarious situation. It highlights, for me, a need for more mindful stewardship. Curator: Exactly! Kavsan challenges viewers to re-evaluate their relationship with both the natural and the artificial world by re-interpreting conventional still-life tropes. It shows the important connection that history has to even modern artistic creations! Editor: I see the history of now too; I was stuck just appreciating the artistry itself. Thanks, I’ll certainly keep that perspective in mind going forward.