Last Supper 2000

Dmitri Zhilinsky made this scene of The Last Supper with paint. It’s interesting how flat and patterned everything is, like a fresco, a painting that becomes part of the wall itself. The colours are so rich and earthy, the ochre and reds against the cool blues and whites. The paint is applied thinly, almost like a stain, allowing the texture of the surface to come through. There’s a sense of stillness, of contemplation, in the way the figures are arranged around the table. Look at that detail of the fish—it’s almost as if Zhilinsky is inviting us to share this meal, this moment of communion with him. You know, seeing the colours and the way the figures are staged almost reminds me of early Renaissance painting, like Giotto. It’s as if he's in conversation with the past, trying to capture a timeless quality. But what’s so great about art is that it never really gives you all the answers, does it? It just keeps asking questions.