Lily (a page from Abracadabra) 2020

Editor: So, this is Pavlo Makov's "Lily (a page from Abracadabra)," a mixed-media collage from 2020. At first glance, it feels like an architectural plan of a somewhat decaying city, or perhaps a memory fading over time. What stands out to you when you look at it? Curator: What strikes me is the visual vocabulary used – the geometric shapes and repeating forms are reminiscent of maps and blueprints, yet they are layered and fractured, speaking to a breakdown of structure and order. What do these fractured spaces symbolize, and what cultural memory does it tap into? Perhaps consider the abracadabra title - in Aramaic, it meant "I will create as I speak" - a magical incantation to create. What then is the artist trying to conjure? Editor: That’s interesting. It's like the city is being both constructed and deconstructed at the same time. The hard-edged shapes mix with softer, almost organic marks, giving it that feeling of something dissolving. Curator: Exactly. These symbols evoke thoughts about how we construct meaning and the layers of memory in our environment. The grid, a very traditional symbol for order, is being undermined. Are these not-quite-right repetitions intentional, and what might the artist be suggesting about control and chance? And how can an art, not architectural, space, convey cultural memory through abstracted urban form? Editor: The way you talk about symbols really changes how I see it. It’s not just a picture; it’s about how we create and remember our spaces. Curator: Indeed. Visual language can hold complex histories. We must not just read what is manifestly shown but seek the hidden context in a set of culturally established signifiers. We decode to reveal culture; this is one definition of art. Editor: So, understanding the artist’s visual vocabulary opens up so much more meaning in the piece! Curator: Yes. The language of visual symbols enables us to bridge understanding across generations.