Cyril's Church (Kyiv) 1980

Yuriy Khymych’s Cyril's Church (Kyiv) is made with loose brushstrokes and a muted palette, revealing the artist’s process as one of layering and adjusting. Look at how the paint is applied—thin washes mixed with thicker, opaque strokes. The texture of the paper peeks through in places, especially in the sky around the church's domes, creating a sense of light and atmosphere. The stark black lines of the tree branches frame the central scene, grounding the composition while leading our eye towards the church. The architecture feels soft, almost dreamlike, as if the building and surrounding houses are emerging from the mist. It reminds me of Milton Avery, another artist who knew how to use color and form to evoke a mood, a sense of place. Just like with painting, our experiences of places are always subjective and changing. Khymych doesn't offer a neat, postcard view of Kyiv but embraces ambiguity and multiple interpretations.