Annita Maslov - Arcana

About

Arcana is a solo exhibition of new pen and ink drawings by Annita Maslov. These works are intended to inspire intrigue about the mysterious worlds the illustrations portray: worlds that involve the occult, preternatural beings and magic, with sometimes a subtle air of tragedy. Opening night: Saturday, Nov 30, from 6pm – 9pm. Free entry. Maslov will be in attendance. This exhibition runs from December 1 to December 22. It runs concurrently with the solo shows, Brian Mashburn's Present Tense and Erika Sanada's Hideaway . The figures depicted in Arcana are not meant be ghoulish or morbid but instead are melancholy and vulnerable in nature. A reoccurring figure with a goat-like head and a female body is meant to exemplify this vulnerability with its name ‘The Outsider.’ Whether this figure is a manifestation of the concept of ostracism or a fantastical creature from a hidden realm is up to the viewer to interpret. The name of the series is the plural form of arcanum, from the Latin word arcanus, meaning ‘secret.’ This word emerged at the beginning of the Renaissance and was used in relation to the mysteries of the spiritual and physical realms. Annita Maslov is a tattooist and illustrator based in Melbourne. Maslov illustrates predominantly with pen and ink. Her subject matter ranges from historical figures to mythological figures and from florals to sea creatures, and her work is recognisable by her intricate dotwork technique.