Presence 1989

Editor: Here we have "Presence," a mixed-media piece painted in 1989 by Oleg Holosiy. There's a dreamlike quality, and something almost ghostly in its composition. How do you interpret this work? Curator: Considering the late 1980s, and Holosiy’s Ukrainian background, it’s impossible to divorce this piece from the socio-political landscape. The fall of the Soviet Union was imminent. I wonder if "Presence" signifies a looming change, an almost palpable anticipation hanging in the air, captured through these very blurred figures. Do you think the figures appear vulnerable? Editor: I do, especially with the visible underpainting, it lends a sense of incompleteness and fragility. The ghostly impression you mentioned also resonates; they seem trapped or emerging. How did the art world in Ukraine affect Holosiy’s choice of figures and colors? Curator: The art scene was navigating between strict Soviet realism and a burgeoning desire for freedom of expression. Holosiy, part of the "New Ukrainian Wave", boldly embraced experimentation. His choice of washed-out blues and reds, along with somewhat distorted figuration, becomes a silent protest, rejecting prescribed artistic styles. Consider the 'presence' of the absent, which is quite telling from the institutional history perspective. Editor: That makes the title seem almost ironic. The painting communicates this profound change without actually depicting any overt political symbol. Curator: Exactly. It’s in the suggestion, the atmosphere. Art becomes a carrier of subtle resistance. And the museum becomes a place for the evidence of historical events told in abstract figures. Editor: It’s incredible how much historical weight and intention can be present in an image that appears so simple at first glance. Thank you. Curator: My pleasure. There's always more than meets the eye.