The Church 1990

Volodymyr Loboda made this painting, called The Church, with oil, on a canvas measuring 35 by 27 centimetres. The loose brushwork and dark palette create a sense of mystery. I love the way Loboda builds form with simple strokes of paint. Looking closely, the texture is thick, and the layering of colours makes the surface so rich. Notice the long, confident strokes of black that define the figures; they are almost calligraphic. Those greens and blues are amazing; a little like Cezanne and the way he constructed the landscape with touches of colour. Loboda reminds us that painting is as much about feeling as it is about seeing, that a painter uses their intuition to create new ways of experiencing the world. I find it so interesting that this piece embraces ambiguity, because to me, it is this that makes it so special.