Over the Milonga

"Dance is a timeless expression of the human spirit, where the body serves as both the canvas and the brush, painting vivid stories in the space it inhabits. Each movement transforms intangible emotions and rhythms into a tangible art form, making dance the ultimate embodiment of creativity. Tango, in particular, exemplifies this connection—an intimate dialogue of trust and improvisation that tells stories of passion, longing, and connection.

Life is about curiosity—about asking questions and exploring possibilities. One of my favorite questions is, “What if?” While none of the grand masters painted tango, I wondered: What if Van Gogh had depicted a tango couple instead of peasants? What if Klimt had captured the tango embrace instead of The Kiss? Inspired by these questions, I reimagined a simple tango pose in the styles of different masters, celebrating both the timelessness of tango and the boundless creativity of art. When interpreted by visionaries like Gauguin, Mucha, or Matisse, tango transcends movement, becoming immortalized through color, texture, and form. Each artist’s style adds a new dimension, enriching the dance narrative.

Through this exploration, I invite viewers to experience the universality of artistic expression. Like visual art, dance reminds us that our bodies are dynamic canvases capable of conveying the full spectrum of human experience. This collection celebrates movement, curiosity, and the stories that connect us through art".

According to the Embodied Realities exhibition's curator Dr. Pamela Chrabieh, 

Olga Safa’s Over the Milonga is a striking homage to tango, infused with the dreamlike qualities of Marc Chagall’s artistry. Inspired by Chagall’s floating figures, surrealist compositions, and symbolic animal-headed characters, Safa reimagines the milonga as an otherworldly celebration of movement and transformation. The presence of blue-headed figures evokes themes of metamorphosis, suggesting that dance transcends the physical realm, becoming a medium for self-expression, emotion, and mythology. With a vivid color palette and ethereal forms, the painting invites viewers into a realm where the body is both weightless and deeply expressive, embodying the essence of tango as a dance of passion, connection, and fluidity.

More than just a depiction of movement, Over the Milonga aligns with the exhibition’s exploration of the body as an expressive vessel. Through its surrealist approach, the painting transforms tango into a poetic narrative where dancers are not merely performers but beings caught between reality and dream. Safa’s work offers a layered interpretation of the body in dance, making it a compelling addition to the exhibition—one that encourages viewers to see beyond the physicality of movement and into the symbolic and emotional depths of artistic expression."

Over the Milonga is inspired by Marc Chagall. 
Production year: 2019.