Information about the work
The work Reflections [Rozdumy] (canvas, mixed media, 1991; transferred to the Khmelnytskyi Regional Art Museum collection by the Directorate of Artistic Exhibitions of the Ministry of Culture of Ukraine in 1993) belongs to a series of paintings wherein artists interpret deep self-reflection regarding personal and national history. Ivaniv reflects upon the ancient history of his homeland, eschewing his signature vibrant palette while retaining his generalized, streamlined forms. His steppe babas (anthropomorphic stone stelae), huddled closely together, stand as silent witnesses to the millennia-long dramatic history of the Great Steppe.
The concise palette is dictated not only by the subject matter but also by the time of day—a night illuminated by a full moon. Confining himself to a narrow color range spanning light-ocher to earthy-brown tones, the artist evokes a physical sensation of the steppe and its soil. The visual image is further enriched by the relief-like surface of the canvas, which the author virtually models through impasto technique. The texture of the stone statues is articulated through multidirectional brushstrokes and pronounced volumetric accents. The nocturnal setting under a full moon infuses the composition with a sense of mysticism: the stone idols appear to awaken, bowing their heads and folding their hands in sorrow. The composition develops vertically, underscoring the enduring connection between heaven and earth, ancestors and descendants, the past and the present.
Canvas, mixed media. 142 × 74