Mascaron 1990

Oleg Holosiy made this painting, Mascaron, with oil on canvas. That face! It’s so simple, rendered with such directness. I can imagine Holosiy in his studio, maybe wrestling with some big ideas, but then deciding to just let it all go and paint this archetypal form. There’s something so primal about it, like a cave painting or a child’s drawing, but with the weight and presence of a monument. It's the kind of image that seems to come from somewhere deep inside. The colors are earthy, subdued – browns and greens. See how the strokes are thick and a bit clumsy? And yet, they’re full of intention. I can feel the artist’s hand moving across the canvas, building up the image layer by layer. Artists are always talking to each other, you know, across time and space, inspiring each other to push the boundaries of what’s possible. What does it mean to see? What does it mean to be seen? These are questions Holosiy engages with, questions we all engage with when we look at art.