Trypillya 2021

Oleh Denysenko made this painting, Trypillya. It’s a world of browns and tans, a dreamscape conjured with rough brushstrokes and a touch of whimsy. You can almost feel the artist’s hand moving, layering the paint, figuring out the forms as they go. I can imagine Denysenko in the studio, wrestling with the image, letting it evolve organically. I think he probably didn't start with a clear plan, more like a feeling, an intuition. The paint seems thick in places, giving the figures real weight and presence. Look at the way the lines scratch across the surface of the horse and rider, creating a sort of patterned skin. It's not just decoration, it's like the figures are made of earth, marked by time and experience. This feels related to other figurative painters, like Paula Rego, who create strange, psychological dramas. It also touches on folk art traditions, where images emerge from the collective imagination. It is as though the artist is having a dialogue with other artists from the past and present. Painting is like that, right? A continuous conversation, where we build on each other's ideas, pushing the boundaries of what’s possible.