Author Archives: s.khegay

On my visit to the Museum of Modern Art, the artwork that I found amusing is the painting “I and the Village” (1911) by Marc Chagall depicting reflection of his gaze on harmony between nature and the human being. Marc Chagall (1887-1985) was a Russian-French artist who was born in Vitebsk and later on in his life moved to Paris where he met with some of the most famous artists and engaged in art movements of cubism and fauvism that inspire him to draw his most famous artworks. However, like other expatriates, he usually felt nostalgic about his motherland; thus, his art usually immersed with his native customs, fairy tales, and lifestyle. In his first work of art “I and the Village,” he portrays his learning of Cubism by use of lines and shapes to separate painting into sections by which he represents various memories. Including the reflection of the frictional connection between the man and the animals. By the fauvism, Chagall’s painting is flat also the art looks more folksy and harmonious by a variety of sizes and juxtaposition of colors. Doubtless, by the use of the combination of art movements Chagall superimposed both styles with each other thereby fulfilling his artwork with deep meaning.
Even though that this painting depicts the village, aside from it this art conveys other ideas. In the foreground, the face of men and a cow united by a thread from their eyes shows the connection between them. At the same time, the contrast of red and green that used to depict the man’s face produces an assumption that it’s Chagall’s self-portrait filled with Cubism and his vision of home. On the other hand, the white-blue cow on the left corner, aligned with a rural scene of cow milking conveying the memories from the past and the jewelry on her neck gives personification bond with a village. Moreover, by looking further into the background, the scene becomes more symbolic. On the top, we can see the small urban village consisted of colored houses and church with a person inside that can be foretold to be the village of Vitebsk. Close to them is a man with a scythe and the woman that can represent the rural people. It is undeniable that some of the houses and the women painted upside down that may reflect social inequality. Besides, the emotions on the man’s face reflect a pleasure of seeing his native land that overlapped with artist nostalgic thoughts while being away. Doubtless, in the center of the painting, we can see the circle that overlapped with the cow’s and man faces and a tree which is an association of the life cycle that united together. The decomposition of colors such as red and green symbolize the life, freedom, and peace. Last but not the least on the bottom there is a drawing of a branch of a tree that is shining from the sun rays from the left, may be associated with the emphatic memories from the past, combined with the images of love, self-evaluation.
What draws my attention to this painting is an aesthetic combination of both cubism and fauvism as well retainment of traditional aspects and images of nature and the people. In other words, the artwork contains a sheer image of each character, animal, and landscape which can be seen and interpreted were clearly and intuitively. Meanwhile, the painting of artist like Picasso or Braque requires dramatic imagination equivalent to its creator to find its true meaning or thought inflicted within it. Chagall’s art, on the contrary, retains the mere question of the precise use of green color to bestow upon the man’s face that makes me wonder what might be the meaning behind it other than the general features of fauvism and cubism.

The views of the society can vividly shape the consciousness and perception of little elements of the past life to the point of obscurity. Whereas, the story of Lu Xun distinctly commemorates the association of nostalgic views and tastes of the past that appear merely new ones observed with a new distinct and radical social elements of life. In case of the author, the aspect of the society transpired by different ways of living in industrialized North and urban South parts of China eventually shifted his perceptions of a hometown, as well as, the tastes which either changed or remained untouched. Likewise, the whole reality of social aspects of the story can correlate to the perception of any aliens living in the states and visiting their homelands from time to time.
Strangely as it may sound the life in the states like New York with a diverse ethnic population from all over the globe can thoughtfully shift the perception of a world as a whole. Where the indefinite variety of cuisines, recipes, and dishes among various cultures with unique names may often excite yet, further confuse nostalgic flavors of childhood. Likewise, the discovery of new flavors may also result in the change of a taste which can make the native dish seem tasteless or lacking. Nevertheless, the lifestyle and perception of different ethnic groups and the city as a whole assuredly form the social aspects which impact the cyclic living and socialization with peers. In other words, with time passed the life in such communities ultimately becomes natural whereas, the presence in the countries of origin seems more secluded and tedious. Consequentially, ones moved back, the society in the place of birth may undergo through a shift of perception of one’s citizen into a mere foreigner. Hence, irreverently turning their attitude and treatment, which often sensed through envy and sometimes contempt caused by the idea disloyalty to one’s state. Associating with the story, both Lu Xun and Weifu experienced precisely the same effects. Whereby, the people of their homeland viewed them as strangers thus, treating them carelessly. Eventually, mesmerizing the place to the point where the home becomes a foreign land, utterly different from one’s memories.

Greeting to everyone who is reading this post! My name is Sergey Khegay, I’m 20 years old, and I am a sophomore. I’m majoring in accounting but still undecided about sticking with this decision; however, I’m sure about taking music as my minor.
I’m a third generation Korean Russian from Uzbekistan, and I have been living in the US for six years. Throughout my experience, the majority of people I usually meet interested in knowing how come a person like me ended up in Central Asia; which side of my family is Korean and Russian, as well as, whether I speak Korean or not so I intend to explain it briefly. To begin, I have to put some historical context. Primarily it involves Japanese annexation of Korea around the years of 1910-12 which forced many Koreans to flee to Primorsky Krai, Russia. Then, deportation to Central Asia around 20 years later under the fear of Japanese spies on the verge of WWII; basically, this is the entire narrative of many families of Koresaram (Korean-Russian). Both of my parents were born in the of Tashkent, my dad is Korean, and my mom is mostly a mix of Russian ethnic groups as well as a little bit of Korean. Lastly and unfortunately, I do not speak Korean, and neither one of my relatives does. However, I am fluent in Russian and nonetheless trying to learn Korean as one of my hobbies which comes quite hard for me since I don’t have any friends or relatives to talk.
Some of my other hobbies include watching movies, TV series like Game of Thrones, cooking, archery, and listening to music. I do not have any particular genre of music that I prefer, but I at the moment, I’m frequently listening to instrumental music like Two Steps from Hell, classical music, and Kpop like BTS and Blackpink which are entirely new to me. By the way, I also know how to play on musical instruments like violin and viola.
As I mentioned earlier, I also do archery as one of my hobbies. Believe it or not but I had never shot an arrow in my life until the last year when I joined Baruch Archery Club. It is fun, easy, as well as beneficial for stress relief in my opinion. The objection of this sport can be related to ones of real life, you choose a target and with all the efforts striving to achieve it in this case shooting bullseye. Besides, it is free, and you can come anytime you want so don’t be scared and come to join it.
I’m not remarkably good at English especially writing, but I will try my best in this course, and I am very excited to learn a lot of new things ahead of us.