Throwing knives (part 2) 1991

Oleg Holosiy made this painting, "Throwing knives (part 2)," with oil on canvas, and it's a trip. The brushstrokes are like quick flicks, almost aggressive, giving the whole scene this restless, energetic vibe. You can tell he wasn't trying to be too precious with the paint. The way he lays down the color—thick in some spots, almost dry-brushed in others—makes the palm trees look like they're shimmering or vibrating in the heat. The texture is so important here. There’s this section in the foreground, with these dark, almost black marks, that feel so raw and immediate. Holosiy really lets the materiality of the paint speak. It's like he's carving the image out of the canvas. Holosiy was part of a wave of Ukrainian artists who were really pushing boundaries, and you can see that spirit here, the urgency and the willingness to take risks. Maybe he looked at someone like Baselitz, who also wasn't afraid to flip things upside down, both literally and figuratively. Either way, this painting is less about answering questions and more about creating a space for them.