Frolikha Bay 1985

Mikhail Olennikov created this painting, Frolikha Bay, with oil on canvas, and it's a real lesson in how a limited palette can create a whole world. Look at how he’s layered blues, greys, and just a touch of yellow – like he’s mixed a big pot of feelings and then stirred it all over the canvas. The paint is thick, you can almost feel the push and pull of the brush, especially in the water, where the strokes become like individual waves, each one catching a bit of light. The mountains in the background feel more solid, but still soft, like distant memories. Take a look at the lower part of the canvas, there's some unexpected daubs of yellow. These small strokes, when viewed as a whole, seem to add an ethereal light to the water. It's an effect reminiscent of Gerhard Richter's landscapes, where abstraction and representation blur into one another. Ultimately, the painting feels open, like an invitation to imagine what lies beyond the bay.