Neighbourhood #3 2018

Editor: We're looking at Pavlo Makov's "Neighbourhood #3" from 2018, an ink drawing on paper. It reminds me of an architect's blueprint, but with a strange, almost dystopian feel. What do you see in this piece, particularly in how it's constructed? Curator: Formally, it's fascinating. Observe the intricate linework; it creates a meticulously ordered, almost repetitive architectural structure. The interplay of geometric shapes – the rigid squares and triangles against the delicate hatching – establishes a visual tension. Note how the composition is centrally focused, leading the eye toward what seems to be a church spire at the heart of the “neighbourhood.” How does that central structure influence your reading? Editor: It definitely intensifies the sense of order and perhaps even control. The surrounding structures look almost identical, as if conforming to some master plan dictated from the center. Curator: Precisely. And consider the materiality – the aged paper and the precision of the ink lines create a deliberate aesthetic. It’s reminiscent of old engravings but applied to a distinctly modernist vision. Does the texture of the paper itself contribute to your experience of the piece? Editor: I hadn't thought of that, but now that you mention it, the texture adds to that sense of history, even a slightly unsettling feeling like uncovering old secrets or lost plans. It definitely complicates my understanding of modernism, which I often associate with clean lines. Curator: An excellent observation. It demonstrates how seemingly simple formal choices—the texture, the line, the geometric organization—can significantly alter our interpretation of a work, prompting us to question assumptions about both modernism and the idea of a 'neighbourhood' itself. Editor: This really opens my eyes to looking at the intentionality behind every line and material choice. Thanks!