Composition №114 1964

Hryhorii Havrylenko made this painting, Composition No. 114, with oil on canvas, and it’s now in a private collection. It's a riot of color, but a thoughtful riot, if that makes sense? The marks are clearly laid down one by one, almost like stacking blocks of paint. Up close, you can really see the texture. The paint is thick, like frosting, and the colors are so vibrant. The reds are deep and alive, and the greens are earthy. There’s a kind of awkwardness to the application, a real hands-on feel; you get the sense that Havrylenko was really in the moment, making decisions as he went. Look at how the orange and yellow strokes sit right next to each other – they vibrate, don't they? It gives the whole piece a real energy. It’s this kind of pure, unadulterated expression that reminds me a bit of Guston, especially his later, more raw and personal works. But really, this is Havrylenko finding his own way, and that's what makes it so special. The painting feels unresolved, like a question rather than an answer, and I think that’s a good thing.