Passions 1990

Curator: Oleg Holosiy's "Passions" from 1990, composed with oil and acrylic paints, is quite captivating, wouldn't you agree? Editor: It definitely grabs your attention. There’s a murky atmosphere that shrouds these figures. Their faces are somewhat obscured but it makes you consider a sense of yearning perhaps, and definitely something repressed. Curator: Holosiy emerged from the Ukrainian New Wave scene, where artists aimed to provoke and subvert Soviet ideals. His art provided a new figuration and broke established cultural norms. This piece definitely exemplifies that approach to break out of those historical expectations. Editor: It’s compelling how his choice to muddy the composition seems intentional. It gives it this ethereal dreamlike quality. In terms of its engagement with art history, I wonder about his intentions regarding whose perspectives he prioritizes. Do we see this painting's engagement with Soviet norms? Is this challenging previous gender and cultural norms? Curator: It's difficult to ignore that the themes in this painting also intersect with ideas about sexuality. Consider the historical and cultural context of Ukraine, which would soon gain independence from the Soviet Union the following year. This composition acts as a bold declaration of newfound freedom of expression. Editor: Exactly, freedom of expression but from whose perspective? It would be interesting to dig deeper into if it critiques, reinterprets or possibly even reinforces certain gendered, classed or cultural dynamics. Curator: Looking at the painting with a critical eye gives you some interesting interpretations for sure. Thinking about how shifts in Ukrainian identity might have influenced him at the time is interesting to think about. Editor: Absolutely, art isn’t just about reflecting culture but also actively shaping and challenging it. It creates space to interrogate complex ideas. Curator: I'll definitely keep that in mind and hopefully it does for you, the viewer as well. Editor: Yes, food for thought about both art history and history.