ART ISSUE
VLADIMIR KUSH
Vladimir Kush, Tree of Life, oil on canvas, 60 x 80"
Known as the founder of metaphorical realism, Russian-born surrealist artist Vladimir Kush depicts metaphor through visual terminology rather than the spoken word. Because of this, Kush’s works not only transcend the boundaries of language, but their complex compositions convey an array of ideas that are subtly open to interpretation without needing verbal communication. Incorporating lovely, collectible icons and objects in his works—delicate insects, colorful flowers, musical instruments, and reflective lakes, among others—Kush has gained popularity for his imagination as well as his painterly talents. He finds that his professional artistic skills are conveyed through realistic imagery; they pull the viewer in to interpret the metaphors he’s suggested using different layers of meaning. In response to the outstanding popularity of his original paintings, he creates giclées as well. His original compilation painting, Tree of Life, depicts multiple metaphors of the tree and is available for sale at The Longworth Gallery, which carries his giclées as well as his originals. The Longworth Gallery, thelongworthgallery.com 50
santafean.com
june/july 2016