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It’s like a Ouija board
The Russian-born artist’s work can hypnotise, deceive or even transform into a mushroom. He talks about his Venice show full of Christian iconography and haunting depictions of children
TL;DR
- Sanya Kantarovsky's 'Basic Failure' exhibition in Venice showcases paintings of figures that are dishevelled, fallible, and often unsettling.
- The artist's work draws from memory, blending dark humor with influences from artists like Picasso and de Chirico, and explores complex human experiences.
- The exhibition's title, 'Basic Failure,' has dual meanings related to artistic creation and psychoanalytic theory, particularly relevant in the context of Venice's religious imagery.
- Recurring motifs include figures shielding their faces and the mythical Centaur, with Kantarovsky finding hope in Buddhist concepts of inherent goodness.