Sharon Lorenzo reviews

Flora Yukhnovich at the Frick Collection

Artist, Flora Yukhnovich.

Curator ,Xavier Solomon.

Xavier Salomon, Frick deputy director and chief curator, decided that as part of the renovated reopening of the Frick Collection in March this year to invite contemporary artists to work on site to create their own interpretations of master works in their collection. His current choice was a lady age 34, Flora Yukhnovich, from the United Kingdon who grew up in Norfolk and then at age 14 moved to study painting at the Heatherley School of Fine Arts. She also completed a Masters Degree at the City and Guilds School in London and is now represented by noted art dealers, Hauser and Wirth, in both the UK and USA.

Flora’s Panels in Second Floor Gallery.

Flora said that her idea was to destabilize viewers and surprise them with her 20 foot murals on the four walls in a gallery where she created her own interpretations of the 18^th century works of Francois Boucher, ( 1703-1770) a French artist whose work was commissioned by the mistress of the French King, Louis XV, Madame de Pompadour. Frick acquired some of these works, and they are now installed on the third floor of his mansion.

Winter Autumn Spring
Summer Francois Boucher- Four Seasons

Flora explained that she chose to paint on mural cloth as it’s a bit more stable especially when she tied two brushes together to cover big spaces. Her choice of pinks and magentas are what she calls gender colors as so much of Boucher’s works involve women. He also was occasionally hired as a theater designer to illustrate plays to entertain the King. Her work focuses for the Frick on how Boucher painted a young couple jumping from a snow- bound sleigh to pastoral landscapes in spring, summer and fall. Abstract images of flowers and nature fill her murals with gaiety and delight as an abstract contrast to the detailed Rococo works they mimic.

Flora and her murals in progress.

Details of her murals.

All lucky visitors can feel her energy and brilliant personal reflections on the works that Henry Frick enjoyed. He no doubt would be thrilled to see how his collection can inspire young artists of this century at work in the midst of his own home and museum.