Vasyl Tsagolov. The Base of Insects

The project was created back in 2012, when nobody could predict the tragic events of the following years. The Base of Insects metaphorically addresses the issue of “the aliens amongst us,” so relevant today, by heightening the absurdity of the presentation. The project depicts a base of “terrorist” insects, beetles and ants of varying sizes as a threatening living writhing mass.

In Tsagolov’s trademark style, the work appeals to common phobias and the provocative aesthetic of the disgusting. The project contains not just objects but also a painting in the artist’s recognizable manner, with innumerable empty spaces on the canvas: the blanks reveal his unique perception of the world and imagery.

Much like the majority of his works, The Base of Insects becomes an opportunity for the author to provide a bitterly ironic take on the clichés, biases and mass perceptions. The artist takes the image of an insect, associated in public consciousness with agricultural pests or outright danger, and moves it into the metaphorical art space by expanding the context. He invites the viewers to leave their comfort zone behind and to take a new look at the established beliefs.