LAUREL LEAF IN THE MOUTH, YOU WILL RECEIVE A MESSAGE

This work by artist and serviceman Pavlo Kovach is a monument of hope. Each laurel leaf here is partially covered in brass, and the case number of a missing soldier is engraved on its surface. Brittle, dry leaves that seem to have fallen acquire longevity — this is how fragile sculptures capture a disappearing presence. The title of the work refers to a folk belief: if you find a bay leaf in your soup, you will get good news. The laurel, which is typically used to celebrate winners, here embodies expectation and quiet reverence. A field made of hundreds of leaves is a landscape of loss, open to the experience of both grief and hope. In most such cases, the person is declared deceased, but there is always a chance for a different outcome. This expectation is contained in every leaf, which, along with the case number, also records the fate of the soldier. The work captures the state of uncertainty between life and death, hope and memory. Here, they coexist, just like in the feelings of those who await news about their loved ones. Still Joy – From Ukraine into the World, Palazzo Contarini Polignac, 61st Venice Biennale · Produced with the support of PinchukArtCentre