Secret III 1997

Oleh Denysenko made Secret III, and its date is unknown, but looking at the work, I’m guessing it was made with ink, or some other fine-tipped instrument. It’s all in black and white, but Denysenko coaxes so many shades out of those two tones. Look at the texture on the wings of the figures on either side. They’re like detailed, mechanical marvels, and seem to buzz with energy. The lines are so intricate, so obsessive, but they work to create depth and movement. I keep coming back to the bird in the cage perched atop the central figure’s head. It’s dark and heavy, contrasting with the airy constellations and diagrams hovering in the background. It’s as if the weight of knowledge and secrets is a burden these characters carry. Denysenko reminds me of Bosch, maybe, or even Dürer, in his meticulous approach and fantastical imagery. He invites us to lose ourselves in his world of symbols and stories, where the answers are never simple, and the secrets always have secrets of their own.