Painting by artist Olga Tumanova (Chelyabinsk), inspired by a poem by Boris Ryzhy
This is one of the artist's favorite poems — philosophical and tragic. She envisioned it in these shades of blue. Orange-coral accents enhance the contrast and convey the tension between the hands of a woman and a man reaching out to one another. The artist does not know whether they are parting forever or perhaps will meet again. The red thread extends beyond the painting's borders, emphasizing this ambiguity — the viewer cannot see whether it is broken or not. The artist would like to offer hope...
In Russia, people part forever.
In Russia, cities are so far from one another
that I flinch when I whisper "goodbye."
I accidentally touch her hand.
Every road stretches a lifetime long.
Tell me, what is the Russian God?
"Of course I'll come." I will never come.
In Russia, people part forever.
"My soul, I will come."
In hundreds of years I'll return.
Such a small thing, dear — what sorrow —
we part forever. "Let me wipe away a drop."
Yes, I won't come. It seems I will die
sooner than that.
In Russia, people part forever.
Throw another piece of ice
into this cold verse.
...And trains plunge off the tracks,
...And planes, having reached the stars,
burn up in them.
