Boats 1991

Oleg Holosiy made this painting, 'Boats', measuring 100 by 150 cm, with a limited palette, mostly dark browns, blacks, and greys, with a touch of blue. I can almost see him at work, building up the image layer by layer, perhaps starting with a vague idea and letting the painting reveal itself through a process of addition and subtraction. Those two figures in the boat, are they lovers, siblings, or just companions adrift on a sea of uncertainty? The brushstrokes are fluid, almost blurry, which evokes a sense of movement and instability. Holosiy’s loose handling of the paint creates a dreamlike atmosphere, as if we are peering into a memory or a half-forgotten tale. There is a vulnerability in the delicate lines of the figures, which is amplified by the choppy, brooding sea around them. I can imagine Holosiy, brush in hand, grappling with the weight of existence, perhaps finding solace in the act of creation. Painting is an ongoing conversation, and Holosiy’s voice echoes through time, inviting us to contemplate the mysteries of life and art.