The times that bind 2013

Timur Akhriev made this painting, "The Times That Bind", with what looks like pretty traditional oil paint, capturing a scene on a boat at sea. What strikes me is how the texture builds up, especially in the sky and the waves. It’s not about smooth blending, but about these visible, choppy strokes that give you a real sense of the wind and the movement of the water. You can almost feel the boat rocking. Look at the way he uses the blues and whites, layering them so that the light feels both harsh and diffused. The figures are secondary, almost swallowed by the scene, but the way they are painted is also interesting. Not precise, but capturing their essence with a few quick marks. This reminds me a bit of how some of the early Impressionists, like, say, Gustave Caillebotte, captured modern life, but with a rawer, more immediate feel. It’s as if Akhriev is saying that life, like art, is more about process than perfect outcomes.