Elefants (part I) 1991

Editor: Oleg Holosiy's *Elefants (part I)*, created in 1991 with oil paint, presents such a unique image. At first glance, I’m struck by how dreamlike and surreal the composition feels. How do you interpret the juxtaposition of the seemingly realistic elephant figures against this abstract backdrop? Curator: Oh, I'm so glad you picked up on that dreamy quality! To me, it feels like flipping through memories, doesn’t it? The elephants, rendered almost photographically in the central square, are then framed, almost fading at the edges, like a picture we hold in our mind. It’s as if Holosiy is asking us, ‘How real are our memories? How do we perceive them through the haze of time?’ I think he also wants us to question, what is 'real' and what is a construct of our perceptions? Editor: That’s fascinating! I hadn’t considered the idea of memory. The dripping paint around the elephants now feels less like a stylistic choice and more like the erosion of those memories over time. Curator: Precisely! Holosiy often explored the fragility of existence. The elephants, symbols of strength and memory themselves, are rendered vulnerable by this ethereal wash. And notice the tropical flora hinted around the edges of the memory; perhaps hinting at a lost home or Eden. Does that resonate with you? Editor: Definitely. It gives the piece a bittersweet, melancholic tone, like a yearning for something unattainable. The way the elephants seem confined within the ‘snapshot’ also speaks to the loss of their natural habitat. Curator: It’s funny you say that – art speaks when it invites multiple layers. When I revisit this, perhaps, instead of loss and sadness, I will sense courage and pride. What an enigma... Editor: That's a really insightful point. It makes me appreciate the power of art to evoke such varied interpretations. I'm seeing a whole new painting now. Curator: Isn’t it great when art unlocks something new in you? Keeps it fresh, doesn't it!