Attiss II (1st part) 1989

Editor: This is Oleg Holosiy's "Attiss II (1st part)", an acrylic on canvas from 1989. It gives me a strong sense of drama, almost like a storm brewing, through its composition of swirling dark shapes against that unsettling blue background. What do you see in this piece? Curator: Precisely. Ignoring any contextual narratives, we find a compelling arrangement of forms. Note the tension between the upper register, where the implied movement is circular and somewhat contained, and the lower portion with its jagged, horizontal emphasis. Do you see how the painterly application, particularly the drips emanating from the upper form, disrupts the potential for a stable reading of the surface? Editor: I do. It's like the painting is fighting against itself, wanting to be both chaotic and controlled. Curator: The limited palette reinforces this tension. The somber blue underpainting is interrupted by stark dark forms, accented with sharp red-orange details. These choices minimize tonal gradations, pushing the painting towards a graphic quality, even as the brushstrokes assert its materiality. We might say that it explores a visual argument between depth and flatness. Editor: So, by analyzing its pure form, the painting reveals its underlying structure and conflict. It’s quite amazing! Curator: Indeed. It demonstrates how abstract-expressionist principles continue to challenge the picture plane. I trust you found our analysis insightful? Editor: Absolutely. Focusing on these elements helps me to understand Abstract Expressionism more clearly! Thank you.