Paul Atroshenko
Images | 1 | 2 |
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"[I create] paintings which have several layers of meaning. I can only hope that the viewers will delight in teasing out their various meanings, and also have the time to appreciate the formal aspects of these works."
Oedipus Rex
Acrylic on Canvas
Length: approximately 6 ft.
Statement
The two paintings on this guest site have been executed in a style which
could be described as "Magical Realism." There is an axiom in
Western art
theory that the more absurd the content appears to be, the greater the
need
for a realistic, or seemingly factual, approach in both drawing and
painting. Hence my choice of a naturalistic style, which happens also to
be
a venerable part of my artistic heritage.
The images I have employed have symbolic value for me, and I trust that
they refer to issues which are of interest to the world beyond the walls
of
my studio. One danger regarding the use of symbols is that we can never
be
certain that others will interpret them precisely in the manner we
intended. Signs often have more than one meaning. For example, if I type
the symbol "+" some would be reminded of the cross upon which
Christ was
crucified; others would think of the plus sign in arithmetic; and if we
were driving on a country road, this symbol would warn us of an approaching
set of crossroads. Ambiguity of this kind is essential to poetry, and for
that reason I enjoy creating paintings which have several layers of
meaning. I can only hope that the viewers will delight in teasing out their
various meanings, and also have the time to appreciate the formal aspects
of these works.
If anyone wishes to discuss these works with me, they can contact me on
email at the following address: P.Atroshenko@unsw.edu.au