96 is a Spazuk bas-relief painting composed of a mosaic of 96

small, distinct panels each one a miniature world, unified yet singular,

whispering its own story. The entire composition is shaped by his signa-

ture fumage technique: ghostly plumes of soot dance across the surface,

evoking the ephemeral fragility of life.

Each panel is slightly raised or recessed from the others,

a subtle sculptural element that invites the viewer to move around the

piece, shifting perspectives, much like in any relationship or community.

All panels are on different planes, symbolizing the layered complexity

and unevenness of emotional landscapes towards Nature, reverence,

biophillia, love, fear etc...

Some panels show abstracted figures silhouettes barely formed,

emerging from the smoke like memories or impressions. Others depict

birds in intimate configurations, a nod to kinship and mutual care in the

natural world. A few are simply textures of soot and gold fire-born

shadows interrupted by the radiance of applied gold leaf.

The gold catches light differently on each panel, depending on its angle,

suggesting that meaning and connection are never fixed; they shimmer

and shift with time, context, and presence.

There’s a rhythm to the whole like a visual conversation, where

each voice (or panel) contributes to a larger, richer harmony. Some panels

are warm, inviting; others are dense, mysterious. Together, they form a

living map of human bonds imperfect, luminous, and deeply intercon-

nected.

It’s a meditation on how community is built: not in uniformity, but

in contrast, support, and shared presence a constellation of singular lives

bound by something more enduring than any one image alone.

The overall composition creates a dynamic, fragmented “collage”

reminiscent of a flood of visual stimuli, reflecting the bombardment of

images and information we navigate daily. The mosaic layout emphasizes

both unity and chaos, highlighting how countless images interconnect

yet compete for our attention...coming back to this peice, your eyes will

always land on a new image for a new discovery...96, the artwork that

keeps on giving.

The Salon, June 2026