20x8x18 cm, Terracotta
A gift of Oleksandr Mykhaliuk and Raisa Maievska, 2013
The lively and light composition of the artwork illustrates the gaucho – an Argentinian villager riding a donkey while holding a large basket in his hands. Interestingly, the artist portrayed his character as if he were posing for the sculptor, deliberately sitting astride the donkey. We can closely examine the details of his facial expression, clothing, and the expertly depicted basket weaving. The artist’s works usually portray the theme of ordinary people, villagers, and workers. The sculptor’s inclination towards “life themes” wasn’t just a whim but a necessity to create himself through the images closest to his heart. Therefore, the master lovingly depicts both Ukrainian and Argentine peasants. By choosing them as the characters of his works, he effectively elevates them, making them worthy to be in art on par with other themes.