Collections Database

Label Text:
Zakharov seeks to create from a childlike mindset, where good and evil are clearly delineated, and past, present, and future blend into one. He has used large reptiles like this alligator to symbolize evil and absolute power—a reference, perhaps, to the Soviet Union, which collapsed around the time he made this work? Zakharov brings a sense of sarcasm to his allegorical fairy tale imagery, posing questions he doesn’t answer. Is the knight on horseback with a white flag calling for a truce? What to make of the pink unicorn, or the shirtless archers firing arrows in different directions? Who are the people in stylized dress carrying away red alligator silhouettes?

Tags:
reptiles; animals; horses; abstract; landscapes; people; flags; farms; rural; weapons

Link to share this object record:
https://museums.fivecolleges.edu/detail.php?t=objects&type=ext&id_number=AC+2014.229

Research on objects in the collections, including provenance, is ongoing and may be incomplete. If you have additional information or would like to learn more about a particular object, please email fc-museums-web@fivecolleges.edu.