Deposition from the Cross 1990

Oleg Holosiy painted “Deposition from the Cross” during a period of artistic and social transition in the former Soviet Union. Holosiy, along with a wave of Ukranian artists, began questioning traditional artistic norms as the region moved towards independence. In this painting, the scene is cloaked in shadow, focusing our attention on a mass of figures surrounding a central, pale form. The figures, perhaps mourners, seem caught between grief and a kind of eerie curiosity. The visual texture feels both dense and unsettling, reflecting the complexities of faith, loss, and the changing social identity in Ukraine at the time. Holosiy pushes against traditional representations of religious scenes, choosing to depict a moment of collective, almost chaotic sorrow. The work grapples with themes of identity and historical change, inviting us to reflect on the shared human experience of grief and the search for meaning in times of uncertainty.