The painting ‘Butscha’ bears a powerful message that leads the viewer into a realm of remembrance and reflection upon the tragic events in Ukraine. It is held in striking black and white tones and dark browns, depicting destroyed houses, ruins peppered with bullet holes, and an avenue filled with craters leading into nowhere. Rust-colored tank wrecks line the path, while a solitary woman with red hair stands lost in the middle of the street. Abstract black circles, like bullet holes, interrupt the scene. Within them, abstract miniature black and white images reflect an environment that no longer corresponds to the once singular reality. These overpaintings disrupt the gloomy landscape, while a trail of blood at the topmost layer unmistakably hints at the ‘Z’ symbol, evoking the origin of this unsettling world. It serves as a reminder of the war in Ukraine, simultaneously functioning as a cautionary tale and a testament to the times.
Butscha, 2023, Oil on Canvas, 90x 190 cm
