Costume design 

Curator: Ah, this leaps out! So energetic and angular. Almost confrontational in its dynamism. Editor: Agreed. It's definitely… arresting. What we have here is a costume design by Aleksandra Ekster. It seems Ekster worked across media—painting, stage design, even graphic arts—embracing Cubism and Futurism. Curator: Costume design… Of course! Now that you mention it, the angles and layered shapes scream movement. Look at that spiral near the center! Editor: Precisely! It draws the eye immediately, a concentrated burst of potential energy. It seems to me that the swirl resonates almost universally as a symbol, appearing from Celtic knotwork to ancient labyrinths… The spiral often speaks of growth, evolution, even the journey of the soul. Curator: Interesting thought. I tend to relate this costume design to textiles rather than myths. I see stiff fabric here, bold geometries that want to break out from the confines of the human form. As a costume it challenges and transcends conventional roles. Editor: Well, and aren’t all costumes transformations of a kind? Consider how Ekster is distorting conventional form here: she wants to reshape the whole human image with symbolic architecture… note those color blocks, like teal on purple or gold and brown. The interplay of shadow and volume are reminiscent of set designs meant for avant-garde plays. Curator: Right! The abstraction here anticipates performance; it has to *move* to realize its complete visual expression. Without context, it may not seem much, but if dancers filled those shapes on stage... That would make magic. Editor: Yes, the artwork seems so vibrant, doesn't it? Even just imagining its possibilities fills me with a certain anticipation. This is such a fascinating glimpse into the cross-pollination of disciplines.