Girl 1963

Vilen Barsky’s “Girl” is an image made with bold strokes and colours that give us a figure as a diagram. It’s like he's mapping out the idea of “girl”, rather than a literal one. The material of this drawing feels so present, doesn't it? You can almost feel the texture of the paper and the way the crayon drags across its surface. The colors are layered but not blended, creating a kind of vibrant, slightly chaotic energy. The red outline is what really grabs me, like a neon sign trying to contain the unruly interior. I keep thinking about that little red heart in the chest area; it's this tiny, vulnerable spot amidst all the bold lines and shapes. Barsky reminds me a bit of Forrest Bess in his use of symbols and personal mythology. Both artists create these insular worlds that invite you in but never fully reveal their secrets. It’s like they are embracing the ambiguity.