Liubochka Painting

This piece is one of the early works from the series "Fetishes," created by Moldovan artist based in Spain, Natasha Lelenco (Chisinev, Moldova 1982), in the year 2021. Liubochka is a name. It is the diminutive of Liubovi, which also means "love." This work takes as its starting point a personal memory of the author, that of a neighbor whom she knew by that name. The name is also that of a popular Moldavian children's song. The anecdote serves as a pretext for Natasha Lelenco to create an anthropomorphic figure made by accumulating floral elements, referring to the ephemeral and immaterial nature of memories: the continuous composition and decomposition of intimate and collective memory, which is a common thread between the natural and the cultural. Lelenco's "Fetiches" series melds portraiture and anthropomorphic forms, achieved through a meticulous accumulation of elements. These elements intertwine with a nuanced thematic exploration, touching upon both kitsch and popular iconography. The series also delves into the inseparable connection between humanity and the larger living community. Drawing from her personal biography, Natasha Lelenco constructs a dialogue between memory and imagery. Through a skillful process, she resurrects fragments of her past to craft fresh narratives that challenge conventional perceptions of existence. This narrative depth, coupled with psychological complexity, echoes classical influences, seamlessly bridging the gap between Renaissance portraiture and contemporary expression. Notably, Lelenco's "Fetiches" series echoes the artistic echoes of Italian painter Giuseppe Arcimboldo.