Plein Air 2004

Editor: Here we have Arsen Savadov's 2004 oil on canvas, "Plein Air". It definitely has this dream-like, almost unsettling quality to it. What do you make of the unusual symbolism at play here? Curator: The power of symbolism is central, isn't it? The work, like many fairy tales, reveals our cultural memory. Think about the masks – the rabbit, the tiger. Masks have historically concealed and revealed identities, channeling animalistic powers, and referencing pagan rituals and shamanic practices. Editor: Right, the blurring of human and animal… there’s definitely something primal about that. Curator: Precisely. And the mushroom caps worn as hats – they're not just whimsical; they invoke alchemic transformation. Do you notice how the traditional symbols of putti, are presented as somewhat disquieting figures, disrupting conventional readings of innocence? Editor: That's interesting. They almost seem burdened, not joyous. Curator: They suggest a loss of innocence. And the strategically placed mushrooms--aren't they an age-old symbol of both decay and rebirth? Editor: I see that, the natural cycle... But what about the man in the suit? He looks like he's conducting something. Curator: He might be orchestrating the unfolding drama, inviting us to reconsider accepted narratives and question established systems of power and authority. Editor: So, it's less about the literal "plein air" and more about an internal landscape being revealed through these strange symbols? Curator: Exactly. Savadov compels us to examine the human condition using the shared vocabulary of archetypes, making it a truly unforgettable and unsettling encounter. Editor: That definitely shifts my understanding. Thanks!