At Sergei's #3 1991

Oleg Holosiy painted ‘At Sergei’s #3’ using traditional oil paints on a large canvas, a common practice for fine art paintings. Holosiy’s choice of oil paint is very telling. This material, with its slow drying time and capacity for layering, allows for a deep exploration of light and shadow. The thick application of paint creates a tactile surface, almost like a relief, which draws you in. The way he manipulates the oil paint – its texture and weight – invites you to consider the sheer labor involved in creating something like this. It also evokes the rich traditions of painting, from the Renaissance masters onward. But Holosiy isn’t just showing off technical virtuosity. He's engaging with a medium that has a long history of depicting power, wealth, and status. The dark palette and indistinct forms suggest something more complex, maybe even a critique of the social structures that oil painting has often celebrated. Ultimately, understanding the materials and making of ‘At Sergei’s #3’ allows us to appreciate the artwork and to see how Holosiy engages with historical painting traditions.