Pensare 2020

Timur Akhriev made this oil painting titled 'Pensare' with bold strokes of blues, yellows, and fleshy pinks. I'm imagining Akhriev standing before the canvas, brush in hand, layering these colors to conjure up the scene. There is a lone figure, lost in thought, perhaps a moment of introspection captured in paint. The artist really makes the most of the impasto, the thickness of the paint, particularly in the background, which gives the work a tangible, textural quality. See that slash of white and black that makes up the robe? It's like a calligraphic gesture, full of energy and movement. It reminds me of Bonnard's intimate interiors, but with a more contemporary edge. Akhriev, like many painters, taps into a long history of artists exploring the human condition, finding new ways to express timeless themes. Painting is an ongoing conversation across generations. Each artist adds their voice, their perspective, to the mix, creating something new, ambiguous, and deeply personal.