Itinerario 14 2020

Pavlo Makov's "Itinerario 14", is an etching, so it’s all about lines, and the pressure he applied to create them. Look at the individual marks that make up each building, and how these shift as the buildings move toward the center. What a fascinating way to describe a journey. Notice how the texture is achieved, with areas of solid blacks as well as small hatched lines to indicate shadow and form. The way he uses lines to build up tone and form is reminiscent of Piranesi's architectural prints. Yet there is a surreal, Escher-like quality to Makov's composition that feels very contemporary. It embraces ambiguity, inviting us to wander through its intricate pathways without ever quite reaching a fixed destination. Art is never a straight line, is it?