Mask 2017

Sergey Piskunov made this painting, called 'Mask', and right away, I'm drawn to the way he's layered the colours, especially that pale blue-green over the pinks. It’s like seeing the art of concealing, revealed. Look closely, and you can see the paint's texture, that cracked surface on the 'mask', it’s almost topographical. The artist isn't hiding the process; they're flaunting it, letting the imperfections become the story. And that wink, that little gesture, makes me think about the masks we all wear, the faces we show the world versus what's underneath. Piskunov’s handling of paint reminds me a little of Jenny Saville, in the way he captures the physicality of the body and the transience of emotion. It’s a reminder that art doesn’t need to be perfect to be powerful; it just needs to be real.