Fountain constructing (blue) 1989

Vasiliy Ryabchenko’s "Fountain constructing (blue)" is a painting, and it feels like Ryabchenko is finding his way as he goes. It's like the painting is growing, not just being made. The surface has a kind of chalky texture, and the colors are muted, almost as if seen through a mist. Look at the way the figures are outlined, not with sharp lines, but with softer edges that suggest movement and change. The gestures are fluid, like the figures are caught mid-dance, or perhaps mid-transformation. Notice the dolphins near the bottom, they’re not just decoration; they seem to be part of the fountain's structure. Their simple representation is almost childlike. I’m reminded of Picasso, not in terms of style, but in the sense of playful invention, that art is a field of possibility, where representation and abstraction can coexist, allowing for ambiguity and multiple meanings to emerge.