IVAN'S WINGS (diptych) 2016

Curator: Immediately I see tension – that jarring contrast between decay and hyper-saturated fantasy. Editor: We’re looking at Babak-Matveev's “Ivan’s Wings” diptych, created in 2016 using mixed media and collage. Curator: Diptych, eh? It's like looking at before and after, or maybe memory versus aspiration. On the left, the sepia tones feel like a fragile photograph, time worn, while the right panel just explodes with this unapologetic, almost digital, brightness. And those wings! Editor: The wings are definitely the focal point, repeated in both panels. I find it interesting that they seem almost like stage props. The work taps into this history of theatrical imagery, playing with the idea of national identity and performativity, how symbols become intertwined with socio-political narratives. Curator: Oh, performativity, that's juicy. Thinking about these wings – they're not just beautiful, golden emblems, are they? They’re heavy. The contrast between panels emphasizes the dissonance of what the subject hopes to be versus their background, their material reality. The almost cartoonish coloring and pose definitely have an optimistic appeal and that makes me ask why are these so distinct? Editor: Exactly, and what does it mean to embody this ideal in a world steeped in the faded browns of historical images, the palimpsests of past experiences? The use of collage invites questions about the role of the archive and memory and raises an important question of identity, both national and individual. How can we achieve a sense of the individual with such a rigid focus on identity, if there isn’t space for play and imagination? Curator: Mmm. The way it all collides! It's both comforting and challenging. Almost… liberating in its absurdity. Editor: Indeed, the piece makes the case that liberation comes from subverting historical images, a collage in which anything can, and maybe should, exist. The possibilities become boundless. Curator: A little unruly even! This artwork really asks how much can we accept from our shared past? What shall we take or leave behind? Editor: It’s a fittingly provocative point of entry into Babak-Matveev's wider practice, leaving you with a few very heavy questions.