Contributed by Peter Schroth / Artist Polina Barskaya – born in Ukraine, raised in Brooklyn, now living in Italy – paints intimate portraits of domestic life. In “The Good Life,” her current exhibition at Harkawik, the life in question encompasses a self-contained triangle of father, daughter, and mother, the latter being the artist and observer. It’s hard to take such a title at face value – especially, perhaps, in light of current events. Except for one painting set in a courtyard, the strictly interior world of the home – be it a private residence or a hotel room – is depicted. Each scene is rendered within a symmetrically balanced box in one-point perspective and contains a central anchoring element. These snug spaces take on a womb-like character, suggesting not only nurture or shelter but also isolation.
