Painting 1991

Oleg Holosiy painted this work using oil on canvas. The subjects depicted appear to be copied from other sources and painted in a deliberately crude manner, creating a dreamlike and hallucinatory atmosphere. The matches in the foreground and hovering above, look like they are floating in the air. The surface of the painting is raw; the painting is made with simple tools and simple techniques. Holosiy's choice of oil paint is itself a comment on the tradition of painting. Oil paint has historically been valued for its versatility and ability to create realistic illusions, which were important to the cultural elite. Yet Holosiy's work undermines these associations through its naive execution and jarring subject matter. By calling attention to the labor and materials involved in the creation of the work, Holosiy challenges any conventional understanding of fine art. Holosiy invites us to consider the making and cultural context of his artworks.