Golden mask 2022

Sergey Piskunov made this striking portrait, Golden Mask, and right away you notice that surface treatment – the way the gold leaf is applied feels so deliberate, like each piece has been carefully considered. The texture is incredible, isn’t it? The contrast between the smooth, dark skin and the crinkled, reflective gold creates this push-pull effect. Look closely, and you’ll see how the gold leaf isn’t perfectly smooth; it’s got all these tiny imperfections, like wrinkles on skin. And the way it catches the light – wow. It’s almost like the mask is alive. There's a tension between fragility and strength, like a protective layer that’s also vulnerable. It reminds me a little of Gustav Klimt, particularly the way he used gold leaf to create these shimmering, ethereal surfaces. Piskunov has a similar thing going on, but with a contemporary edge. It’s like he’s asking us to think about what we hide, what we reveal, and what it means to be seen.