Flying Hares 1991

Oleg Holosiy’s large painting presents a dreamy image of pale blue figures floating across a vibrant yellow backdrop. I imagine him working on this at a scale that engulfs him, each brushstroke a full-body gesture. I wonder if the artist felt a little like he was one of those flying hares as he painted this—dreaming up the improbable with a brush full of pigment. What is so strange about this painting is that it seems to be figurative, but only just! I mean, look at those figures—are they human, animal, or something in between? Is it a landscape or a portal? It seems like Holosiy wasn't just depicting something; he was after something else, something he couldn't have known in advance. Like all great paintings, this one feels less like a statement and more like a question. It's a part of a much longer conversation that began long before Holosiy picked up his brush and that continues every time someone like you or I stands in front of it.