Ave Caesar 1988

Dmytro Kavsan made this painting, Ave Caesar, with generous amounts of oil paint on canvas. The thick, almost sculptural application of paint is notable, especially the way the forms are built up in layers. Look closely and you will see the many textures and tonal ranges that give the painting its visceral presence. This technique is relevant, because it speaks to a much broader history of expressionist painting. Here, Kavsan is actively pushing against the impersonal aesthetic of mass production. Each brushstroke is a distinct decision, a trace of the artist's hand. In this way, painting is ideally suited to express human qualities, like the anxiety we see reflected in the faces of the crowd. The painting's power comes not just from its imagery, but also from the immense amount of physical work that has gone into its making. This is a world away from the slickness of so much contemporary culture. Here, we see the value of labor.