Text: Irina Pivkina, art critic
17/08/2023

In "Sleep Break" (2016), Romenskii presents a poignant image of a woman, perhaps a mother, lying on a couch with a cat curled up beside her. The composition, shrouded in shadow and rendered in monochromatic tones, evokes a moment of stillness, a pause in time. The figure in the doorway, seemingly a spectral presence, adds a layer of mystery, as if Romenskii’s works evoke a sense of haunting nostalgia, portraying images that seem to emerge from the recesses of memory. The quiet scenes of summer in the village, a sleeping mother, and the autumnal view from a window echo the past, evoking misty recollections that the artist masterfully conveys through his etching technique. Each piece in this series feels like a fragment of a forgotten dream, offering a window into the inner world of the artist and his contemplation of home.

The scene is a memory from the artist's past, revisited in a dream. This piece captures the essence of home as a place of rest and refuge, yet tinged with an undercurrent of melancholy.

"House of Childhood" (2021) expands on this theme, depicting a scene viewed from inside a home, looking out towards a vast, empty landscape. A vase of wildflowers, a letter, and a small toy horse sit on the windowsill, remnants of a past that seems just out of reach. The cool, muted colors suggest the fading of time, and the desolate landscape outside the window serves as a metaphor for the distance between the present and the past. Romenskii's use of etching allows for a rich texture that enhances the sense of depth and longing in this work.

Finally, "August" (2020) portrays a solitary figure resting on a bench in a garden. The lush foliage that surrounds the figure contrasts with the subdued tones of the etching, creating a dreamlike atmosphere. The figure, wrapped in a blanket, seems to be lost in thought, enveloped by the tranquility of the natural setting. This work speaks to the peaceful yet melancholic moments of solitude that often accompany memories of home.

Romenskii’s exploration of the theme of home is not just a reflection of physical spaces, but also a meditation on the emotions and memories that these spaces hold. Through his meticulous technique and evocative imagery, he invites the viewer to enter a world where the past and present merge, and where the ghosts of the family portrait linger in the quiet corners of our minds.

These works are more than just representations of domestic scenes; they are profound reflections on the nature of memory, loss, and the enduring presence of home in our lives. Romenskii's etchings serve as a poignant reminder that while the physical home may change or fade with time, the emotions and memories it holds remain with us, like ghosts in a family portrait.