Text and Time 83 Print

The Archetypal Expressionism Statement ARCHETYPAL EXPRESSIONISM lies between the two major paradigms of contemporary art, the figurative and the abstract. It represents the spiritual quest for common cultural roots, beyond the tragic accidents of history. It is a fascinating approach to rediscovering the Tahiti of our collective memory, through the shapes and the exotic figures of our inner lives. It is art suspended between the real and the imaginary and it needs rigor and mystery, arithmetic and lyricism, simplicity and paradox. Although my work concept as a visual artist, that is ARCHETYPAL EXPRESSIONISM, could be considered a new one, it describes an immemorial artistic reality. Archetypal Expressionism is indeed a new concept and yet it echoes an ancient tradition in making art, also specific to cultures of a remote past. Strong colors, deformities and a special sensitivity to imagine the world are not exclusively the prerogatives of modern expressionists. Though most of the art experts have asserted that there are only two major paradigms, the figurative and the abstract, I intend to convince the arts community that even from primordial times we have had THE THIRD PARADIGM , the ARCHETYPAL ART. The archetypes have a secret power, because they have been used during thousands of years by a large amount of populations and they are now a part of our hidden inner life. That is why they have a special emotional impact on every human being. Every major work of art begins with an archetype and ends in music, the most ineffable manifestation of time. “'Elements of expressionism and classical realism combine in the works of Constantin Severin. His rich-colored geometric compositions are combined with perfectly recognizable genre scenes that quote masters of realistic painting – Jan Vermeer, Diego Velazquez and others. On the one hand, the artist sets the idea of artistic evolution in his works. On the other hand, he demonstrates that Realism is just one of the many ways to accept and display the world.” (Olga BORTE, art critic and journalist, Moscow) “We are proud to have included in the Lavacow Christmas Auction a work by Constantin Severin, whom we appreciate for the delicate mixture between different artistic styles, creating a harmonious all that succeeds to communicate, through a single artwork, the essence of the history of art.