Can I Allow Myself Abstraction?

Can I allow myself abstraction?

Abstract painting doesn't speak to everyone's heart

I remember one of my professors at university — an artist named Uladzimir Klimushka. His style? Abstract, geometric shapes. Only that — not a single step in any other direction. Back then I'd look at those works and simply not understand what they were about. Who is this for? What's the point? And why?

Now… I admire my own "joyful," minimalist, naive paintings. The only shame is that, apparently, I'm mostly the one admiring them 😆

And suddenly the question comes up: who am I, to allow myself abstraction?

I don't have famous parents, I don't have a PR team, I haven't become known for any wild antics, I'm no hero, I haven't even done time in prison, as sometimes happens among Belarusians...

What's more — horror of horrors — I dared to move to a different country from the one I was born in!

And if my future self is reading this...

Maybe the day will come when my abstraction finds its people. Because on this planet, with millions of souls, my people definitely exist. I know it. Maybe we haven't met yet, maybe they're looking at something else right now... but they're out there somewhere. And when they finally look at my work and feel the same thing I feel when I paint — it will have been worth it.

But for today, I have a plan: I want to breathe a little realism into my abstractions.

We'll see what comes of it.