Melc Melc Codobelc

"Melc-Melc-Codobelc" is one of the works from the "Fetishes" series that Natasha Lelenco created throughout the year 2022 as part of an installation for Imaxinaria, the International Contemporary Illustration Exhibition, exhibited at the Abanca Foundation in Santiago de Compostela and La Coruña, Spain. The painting features a portrait in which botanical elements form a part of a face like a landscape inhabited by snails. The title refers to a popular Moldovan children's song, supposedly used to attract snails, and serves as a starting point for a reflection on the natural and organic position of the human in contrast to the often anthropocentric perspective.

The piece has been conceived as an absolute whole and does not require a frame. The sides have been worked on and are an integral part of its composition.

Lelenco's "Fetiches" series melds portraiture and anthropomorphic forms, achieved through a meticulous accumulation of elements. These elements intertwine with a nuanced thematic exploration, touching upon both kitsch and popular iconography. The series also delves into the inseparable connection between humanity and the larger living community.

A thought-provoking question lingers within these Lelenco's work: "Given recent revelations of bacterial cells outnumbering human cells within our bodies, where does our self-concept truly begin and end? What fragments of our identity persist within the realm of bacteria, insects, and plants – a realm we inhabit through the journey we call life, whether in happiness or anguish?"

Drawing from her personal biography, Natasha Lelenco constructs a dialogue between memory and imagery. Through a skillful process, she resurrects fragments of her past to craft fresh narratives that challenge conventional perceptions of existence. This narrative depth, coupled with psychological complexity, echoes classical influences, seamlessly bridging the gap between Renaissance portraiture and contemporary expression. Notably, Lelenco's "Fetiches" series echoes the artistic echoes of Italian painter Giuseppe Arcimboldo.

These pieces have been designed to function individually or to be combined into multiple panels, engaging in dialogue with other artworks from the same series. Feel free to reach out to us if you're interested in exploring additional pieces to create multi-panel arrangements.

Natasha Lelenco, born in Chișinău, Moldova in 1982, is a prominent Moldovan painter and contemporary artist who has been residing in Galicia, Spain, since 2008. She is especially known for her figurative work, particularly in the realm of portraiture. Holding a degree in Fine Arts from the University of Cluj-Napoca in Romania, her art has been featured in numerous international exhibitions and art fairs, exploring themes such as memory, the human as an integral part of the community of the living, and popular imagery.

Natasha Lelenco's art has been showcased across exhibitions in Spain, Germany, Denmark, Portugal, Mexico, and beyond. More than 40 works of these series has found its home in private collections worldwide.