Art Historian Tascha Sciarone in front of "Anthologima 5' (2022). Marko Klomp. Oil on Linen. 120 cm x 100cm.

Small changes are made when

I move from one place to another

Old and new, the distance is so close

I am struck by a profound sense

of my littleness as I move forward

I leave things behind, giving us love

I am silent when I take a moment to

resurface and look at the past and

the present appreciates that time birthed

everything giving me the strength

to lift things or at least

Trying to receive and putting them

In a situation where I want them to be.

- Marko Klomp

Anthologima 5 | Marko Klomp | Landscape Painting

Description by art historian Laura Caseberry.

As another painting in the artist’s Anthologima series, we can immediately see similar features of a highly detailed small subject within a larger, blurred and softened scene. Yet it is a distinctly different piece within the exhibition because it moves away from its natural setting. This fifth piece in the series features a traditional, familiar painting of a still life trope with fruit, a pitcher, and objects placed in and around a bowl on a table. The painting is filled with earthy oranges, browns, grays, and greens. The light enters from the left, illuminating the tablecloth and falling on the sides of the pieces of fruit. Many of the fruits resemble pears and are second from the left.

The artist has chosen to paint this creature turned, looking away from the viewer’s perspective and allowing the audience to see its delicate, intricate wings. The butterfly depicted in this piece is placed across the center of the painting. The table top extends to the left and right. The upper and lower parts are empty, showing only a few shadows of light and dark from folds in the tablecloth and the corner of a wall. However, the painting still feels evenly distributed, and this composition reinforces that weight, the solid feeling of the table and the objects on it. The title alone tells a story of progress, so perhaps the butterfly is making its way across the table, over things. The artist’s choice to create this characteristic ‘still life’, fruit and jug on the table, ties in with the words of the accompanying poem, which talks about taking a moment and looking back.

The artist’s work, artwork and poetry convey ideas of taking some time to reflect, as it can help us move forward stronger and better. The artist also brings up the idea of ​​noticing ourselves as a small part of something bigger. But not in a small way, but as a way of self realization and allowing us to recognize that we may have what we need and have the power to rise up and above our obstacles, we may be small like this butterfly but we can still create change. This painting may not make a big impression at first glance but the concept within the uncomplicated subjects and composition symbolizes self realization, power and improvement.