Snail (2026) Original Pastel Drawing by Maxim Bondarenko

The painting’s philosophical density is complicated by restrained absurdism. The snail functions almost as a parody of deterministic metaphysics — a muted “Snail Effect” replacing the romantic grandiosity of the Butterfly Effect. The universe does not necessarily reorganize itself around symbolic gestures. Catastrophe and transcendence may arrive independently of our actions. This irony prevents the work from becoming doctrinal. Its mysticism remains self-aware.

Rather than dramatizing causality, the painting hints at a universe indifferent to proportional logic: immense events unfold regardless of whether the snail moves or remains still. This understated absurdity introduces humor into the work’s metaphysical dimension without diminishing its sincerity.
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I drew it a couple months ago and reworked recently. Since then I cannot stop finding more and more symbols! As today - flowers next to Infinity. So red as a wound, but they're Uncultured Carnations. It's easy to guess what their multitude means for the snail that's sliding on the edge of its home touching man's lip with its antenae. Its home suits more an Ocean Oyster.
The snail slides in eights and the shell opens alternate realities such as the man's "new" eye, you may notice it merely as an impression. More than anything it reminds me a maze and a Moebius strip. I' amazed, I'm stripped. Who's that guy? Snail's new in-carnation? God's eye? Bad pun - Iconic. I need more Cones in my art.
Snail
I think God is Language.
When it's not Time.
When it's not Nonsense,
My anguish
that spilled liquid gold
on that shell
as a bizarre mother pearl.
What the hell!
Didn't you choose your next incarnation,
Little snail
Little bit stuck
In Eternity mode?
Red carnations as every bit aren't senselessly there.
In their defense
They read like a wound.
It feels so
With no bound.
to Explore
God.
God's way is God's 'Why?'.
Language? Yes.
But not as an instrument.
Instrument is
never an actor.
Not is as consummate,
But merely a cause
In between
Of an actor and roles.
What is actually gay in doing a guy?
When even a snail knows:
God is a Giant Euphemism!
What is not God: controls
In the late stages of capitalism
Attempting to buy
More of this God.
To get more Time
to shop in eternity coldness
that's called -
a Choice
To explore
God.

June 3rd, 2026

Materials used:

Oil pastel on black paper

Details:

• Pastel drawing on Canvas
• One of a kind artwork
• Size: 30.48 x 45.72 x 0.25cm (unframed)
• Signed on the front
• Style: Surrealistic
• Subject: People and portraits