Shot (After the shot, he put the gun away) 1991

Oleg Holosiy created this oil on canvas painting, *Shot (After the shot, he put the gun away)*, during a period of immense social and political change. The painting reflects the turbulent transitional period in Ukraine as it moved towards independence. Holosiy captures a scene of ambiguous violence, repeating it as if echoing trauma. A man lies fallen, while another sits calmly nearby, the scene unsettling in its lack of explicit narrative. The cool palette and the flatness of the figures give it a detached and dreamlike quality. This detachment might mirror the sense of alienation and disillusionment that pervaded post-Soviet societies. The painting raises questions about power, responsibility, and the psychological impact of violence. It invites us to contemplate the unspoken stories behind the depicted moment, and the ways in which personal actions can reflect broader societal fractures. Holosiy’s work serves as a stark reminder of the human cost of political upheaval.