To Maria Priymachenko 2009

Arsen Savadov made *To Maria Priymachenko* using paint, layering fantastical creatures and people in a strange landscape, like a dream unfolding before us. The making of art is a process, and here, it feels like Savadov is letting his subconscious lead the way. There's so much to look at, but let’s zoom in on the lower part of the painting, where a blue quadruped, dotted with white spots, seems to prance through the scene. The paint is applied in thin washes, creating a textured surface that feels both delicate and otherworldly. The animal is a creature of fantasy but it's somehow very grounded in this painterly world. Savadov's work reminds me a bit of the Surrealists, who were also interested in exploring the unconscious through art. But Savadov brings his unique vision to the table, creating a world that is all his own, a world that embraces ambiguity and multiple interpretations, much like life itself.