Bombing 1991

Oleg Holosiy made this large, two-meter painting, Bombing, presumably with oils. Look at this monochromatic world where browns and whites collide! The sepia tones give it a kind of nostalgic feel, like an old photograph, even though the subject matter is pretty violent. The texture is built up in layers, especially in the foreground. See how the paint is thicker, almost sculptural? It’s as if Holosiy wanted us to feel the impact, the raw energy of the explosion. The plane is smaller, further away, and feels like a ghost in the sky. It's a really different treatment, which suggests a different intention. There's something about the way Holosiy handles the paint, the push and pull between representation and abstraction, that reminds me of Gerhard Richter's blurred paintings. Both artists challenge our perception of reality and memory. It's not about answers, it's about the questions we ask when we look, isn't it?