Commedia dell'Arte in Crimea 2012

Arsen Savadov's photograph *Commedia dell'Arte in Crimea* is a tableau of figures on a billiard table surrounded by objects that feels as though it could have been made at any time. It's a photographic image but it has a painted quality, a richness of tone and color reminiscent of Dutch Masters. It’s staged and theatrical but feels intimate and personal at the same time. The textures jump out; from the crisp white tutu to the velvet cushions, the composition is energized with details. The diamond pattern on the harlequin's costume is really eye-catching. Each diamond contains a different color and tone that enlivens the image by fracturing the light. You could spend ages puzzling over the strange assortment of objects and characters presented here. Ultimately this image isn’t about answers, it’s about the joy of looking. Like the compositions of David Salle, it welcomes ambiguity and multiple interpretations.