Untitled 

Editor: So, this piece is an untitled work by Hannibal Alkhas. It seems to be acrylic on canvas and includes figuration that is evocative of Fresco and Byzantine art. There's a feeling of ancient storytelling and also... defiance somehow? What strikes you most when you look at it? Curator: I’m immediately drawn to the layering of iconographic imagery, particularly in the context of Alkhas's Iranian heritage. The figure clearly evokes Saint George slaying the dragon, but it's presented with such a deliberate fracturing of style. It reminds me of how marginalized narratives often get layered and fragmented by dominant cultures. Editor: Fragmented how? Curator: Well, think about it. The piece positions the icon, almost as a separate painting within the larger canvas, alongside a much rawer, more emotionally charged depiction. Are we seeing a commentary on the way religious narratives can be both revered and, perhaps, violently imposed or re-interpreted across different cultures? Is Alkhas subtly addressing the role of art as a vehicle for cultural imperialism, even within religious contexts? The tension between the two depictions really creates that sort of discussion. Editor: I see what you mean. The almost ‘rough’ rendering in the larger figure below compared to the more refined miniature feels very intentional now that you mention cultural imposition. But I didn’t catch that it might be saint George, is that part of the usual iconography? Curator: Absolutely. And how Saint George has been embraced and reinterpreted across vastly different cultures – from the Middle East to Europe and beyond – it makes the layering here all the more compelling, doesn't it? It really shows Alkhas inserting himself into an ongoing cross-cultural narrative. Editor: It does. I’m seeing so many levels that were initially invisible to me. Thanks! Curator: Of course! The painting serves as a reminder that artistic traditions are not static. Instead, they engage in continuous dialogue with shifting societal and political landscapes. I have really learned a lot myself, looking at the Saint George myth as a story of power structures and the interaction with art in these structures.