Maria BARBAN
I Flowers beyond Flowers
Oil paint, acrylic and black foil on canvas
72.5 x 60.5 cm
2023
"Infant Head" is the most iconic symbol in Maria Barban's creations. The recurring appearance of the doll's head may seem eerie, but perhaps even more perplexing is the notion that the entire artwork is a mask. Through prolonged observation of Barban's work, the author consistently senses a kind of "beyond words," an almost palpable yet elusive secret embedded in her pieces. These secrets are hidden within the hyper-realistic details, intricate repetitions, and even in the brilliant colors reminiscent of a film negative. The author is curious not about the surface narrative or theatricality, but rather about the unspoken, seeking to transcend the visible clues towards the profound invisibility. Exploring the mysterious atmosphere that perpetually hovers over her creations, the author questions why this indescribable tension simultaneously constructs and remains in an inaccessible realm. Barban's paintings, in their simplicity and complexity, always emit an enigmatic ambiance. The profound lies in the most delicate surface: it appears to articulate everything, yet something is forced into silence, leaving the author often feeling trapped in a abruptly halted moment in time.