With a Red Parrot

In "With a Red Parrot," artist Lilit Soghomonyan transcends the boundary between the animate and the illustrated, immersing viewers in a canvas where the kinetic energy of life is as palpable as the stillness of portraiture. This mixed media work on paper, measuring 20 x 27.5 inches, is a 2023 masterpiece that vividly embodies the contemporary figurative style.
Soghomonyan’s composition defies the convention of static imagery, breathing motion into each stroke. The red parrot, a symbol often associated with the ability to traverse the realms of earth and sky, serves as a mediator between the forms. The bird's vibrant red and yellow feathers are rendered with a sense of urgency that contrasts with the serene expressions of the human figures surrounding it. This duality may well speak to the complex dance between freedom and attachment, a recurring theme in human-animal relationships.
The fluidity and confidence of the lines suggest movement, a sort of visual narrative that unfolds across the paper. The monochromatic figures are accentuated with splashes of color, bringing a layered depth that invites the viewer to explore the interplay between the figures and their feathered companion. The tactile quality of the mixed media enhances the visual texture, giving the artwork a sensory dimension that encourages touch through sight.
Soghomonyan’s work is emblematic of an era that craves connection, reminding us that art is not just seen but felt. "With a Red Parrot" is not merely an image; it is a conversation, a whisper of the deep-seated kinship shared across all forms of life, challenging the observer to listen. It's a bold statement in the artist’s oeuvre, one that resonates with an audience yearning for the melding of wildness and tenderness.