Third wheel 1991

Oleg Holosiy’s painting, “Third Wheel,” is made with expressive brushstrokes and a haunting palette. Holosiy fearlessly explores the darker sides of the human experience, using the process of art-making itself as a form of catharsis. Look closely at the texture of the painting; see how the paint is applied in loose, gestural strokes, creating a sense of rawness and immediacy. The colour palette is muted, dominated by browns, greys and blacks, which contributes to the painting’s somber mood. Note the stark contrast between the ghostly white figure and the dark, shadowy background. This contrast heightens the emotional impact of the scene. Pay attention to the eyes of the figure in the background. They seem to be staring right through you. Holosiy was part of a generation of Ukrainian artists who emerged in the late 1980s, pushing the boundaries of artistic expression. You might see echoes of Francis Bacon’s existential angst in Holosiy’s work, though filtered through a uniquely Ukrainian lens. Ultimately, Holosiy’s work reminds us that art is not about easy answers, but about grappling with the complexities of existence.