The Pértsi (Pepper) group is a creative tandem of Oléh Petrénko and Lyudmýla Skrýpkina, who worked together from 1984 to 1999. They are bright representatives of the circle of Odésa conceptualists, they are known for their mysterious, symbolist works based on complex tables for scientific articles of the 1950s and 60s with ironic and absurdist comments.

We want to show you a very unusual piece by Pértsi “The Time Has Not Come Yet”, made in 1986. This is a carefully executed drawing that has quite complex meanings and associations.

In the centre of the picture, there is a light-grey pyramid, on the sharp top of which there is a silver globe. A boy in a pioneer uniform is balancing on a globe. Above him, from the clouds, a hand is reaching out, pressing the pioneer to the ball. On opposite sides of the pyramid, close to the bottom, two medical workers holding carriers with men on them are depicted. The one on the right is ready to push the cart up the sloping surface of the pyramid to the top, and the one on the left is ready to push it down. All movements are provided with arrows indicating their directions. There are large white clouds around, from which rays of light pour from above to the centre of the picture. At the centre of the bottom, there is the inscription in grey letters “It’s not time yet.”

The work has two lines of ideas.

The first is deeply humanistic and philosophical. The authors send the message that there is no need to rush to the other world; life, although difficult, is worth its natural development.

The second depicts the social aspect because of the pioneer, who is depicted on top of the sphere. The authors are ironic about the organisational “enthusiasm” of Komsomol pioneer leaders for they could do anything without even thinking.

This plot is also an appeal to leaders and managers, who often, in their ardent enthusiasm, do not pay attention to the condition of their wards. It is good that there is a supreme leader who reminds us to stop and think that “it is not time yet”.