Hero 2014

Curator: What's catching your eye today? Editor: I'm drawn to Oleh Denysenko's "Hero," an oil painting from 2014. There's a strange kind of stillness to it despite the clear narrative of victory – this figure standing over a defeated head. What's your read on this piece? Curator: It's potent, isn’t it? Immediately I consider the visual language: The hero, almost icon-like with that halo, placed against the brutality of conquest. How do we reconcile that symbolism? What narratives of power are being subtly critiqued, or perhaps reinforced? This could be positioned alongside conversations around historical depictions of heroism and their often-problematic implications regarding race, class and even gender, what do you think? Editor: I didn't consider those elements at first glance. I was mostly caught up in the sort of… symbolic quality. But your idea of questioning heroism itself adds layers of complexity. Do you think the artist is being critical of this idea of heroic victory, or are they just depicting it? Curator: It's tough to say definitively, isn’t it? But art is rarely neutral. Even in its aesthetic choices, it reveals an angle. The subdued palette, the almost weathered texture—they suggest a past burdened with conflicts and conquest, what is the cost, and who carries it? This invites us to contemplate how victory is framed. Are there untold narratives present within it? It reminds me of similar debates when we question the glorification of conquest from, for example, early US history. Editor: That's a powerful way to frame it! So much more to consider beyond the initial impression of 'heroism'. Curator: Exactly. These aren't isolated images; they resonate within broader societal dialogues, whether intentional or not. Considering historical precedents helps sharpen the contemporary dialogue around power, identity, and narrative control in our image-saturated world. Editor: Absolutely! It opens a new perspective for understanding the painting. Curator: Glad to share this point of view with you. Always question, contextualize and consider how each image is charged with a power structure that affects us all.