Fountain Constructing 2019

Vasiliy Ryabchenko created this untitled painting with oil on canvas, and what strikes me most is the way the forms emerge, not as fixed objects, but like fleeting visions. Ryabchenko's color palette, dominated by soft pinks and muted blues, creates a dreamlike atmosphere. Look closely, and you'll notice how the paint is applied in layers, almost scrubbed onto the canvas, allowing the texture to play a vital role. The central figure, a sort of doubled caryatid, is rendered in cool blues, which contrast with the warmth of the surrounding pink ground. The brushwork is particularly visible here, with the artist allowing the strokes to define the forms and add a sense of movement. See how the seated figure at the base of the fountain is built up with multiple layers of paint, each stroke contributing to a feeling of depth. I'm reminded of the dreamlike imagery of Odilon Redon, who also explored the boundaries between reality and imagination. Ryabchenko invites us to embrace ambiguity and find our own interpretations within this visual poem.