Masha Kohan
T
he paintings of Masha Kohan create worlds where medieval figures stand out in realistic splendor in situations that are allegorical or fantastic. Her painting "Listen!" shows an imposing female figure dressed in medieval costume playing a flute. In the distance is a cloudless sky and the faint outline of hills and valleys. Masha Kohan's compositional style is similar to that of Medieval and early Renaissance artists who placed dramatic emphasis on the human figure and allowed the background to remain largely unfocused. The woman's intent gaze is concentrated and powerful. Illustrated in the brilliant depiction of her facial expression and the body's gesture, it is as if, through her flute, she is luring the unknown into the frame of view. The viewer's involuntary participation and experience of her movement, an unusual interactive quality to a painting, takes Masha Kohan's work to the modern edge of contemporary art. Fond of Medieval art and philosophy, Masha Kohan brings her unique perception to today's audience, leading us into a scene of mystery and secrecy frozen in time. Before Masha Kohan began painting, she was a jewelry artist. Her change in medium began when she and her husband, fellow metal and glass designer Imre G. Kohan, moved from Budapest to the Maltese Islands. Living a mostly hermetic lifestyle on a spellbound Mediterranean Archipelago, rich in cultural heritage, inspired Masha Kohan to change her mode of expression. As her paintings testify, Masha Kohan's imagination is an incredible tool in her creations and one that will continue to serve her well in any medium.