Small Talk 1990

Oleg Holosiy created "Small Talk" as part of the Ukrainian New Wave, a period of artistic liberation in the late 1980s marked by its critical engagement with Soviet ideologies. The painting depicts two figures rendered in a crude, almost grotesque manner. The figures seem to be engaged in conversation, indicated by speech bubbles containing expletives in Russian. These words, laden with aggression and disrespect, challenge the legacy of the former USSR. Holosiy’s art gives a voice to suppressed experiences, mirroring the socio-political landscape of a society grappling with transition. His work acts as a critique of power structures and questions conventional societal values. The raw emotion emanating from the canvas suggests a society at odds with itself. "Small Talk" reflects a broader struggle for identity and expression, resonating with anyone who has experienced the complexities of cultural and political change.