Anastasiya Sakalouskaya (BY)
Text written by GHA
“Belarusian artist Anastasiya Sakalouskaya’s figurative, melancholic pencil drawings capture varying emotions through muted pastel characters against a luminous backdrop. Dynamic body language and expressive hand gestures evoke empathy and engage viewers in her touching visual narratives.“
The artist positions the weight of sadness that the human body experiences with the beauty of natural landmarks. Hunched shoulders become mountainous landscapes, tears become flowing rivers and figures that are doubled over appear as sturdy, rocky terrain. These pencil drawings offer the viewer a space for reflection and convey a certain contemplation. The scenes, drawn with great precision, convey an elegance and lightness despite the sensitive content. The small-scale draws the viewer close to the images, enhancing their connection to figures and the sense of reflection.
Facial features are often hidden behind hands or hair, and the muted purple skin may reflect a depth of sorrow, bringing to mind shadows and a withdrawal from oneself. Though the colossal protagonists dominate the composition and evoke concern, the tenderness of embrace between the characters outweighs their melancholy postures. Their kindness balances the lingering sorrow as they physically support one another to carry a mutual burden. Assisting in this gentle affection and hopeful narrative, bright contrasting elements that are open to interpretation can be perceived, such as representatives of comforting spirits that circle overhead. In the drawing with the most outward display of recovery, a heavenly illumination falls upon the subject’s face as he gazes into the falling rain. Through details such as these, Sakalouskaya conveys how nature, animals and tender support can bring hope and tranquillity to those who are recovering from traumas.
Find more works in our webshop >>>
Artwork 1 Artwork 2
