Good 1991

Editor: We're looking at Oleg Holosiy's "Good" from 1991, an oil painting depicting what seems to be a sunset scene, perhaps in a tropical or subtropical setting, judging from the palm trees. There's this swarm of insect-like figures buzzing around. Initially, the high-contrast palette makes me feel somewhat uneasy, despite its name. What do you see in this piece, how do you interpret it? Curator: Well, isn't that interesting? "Good," a title almost jarringly simple against this fever dream of buzzing somethings! The colours shout of an end-of-day glory, or is it a slow burn apocalypse? The painting comes from a particularly turbulent time just before and after Ukraine's independence. A time of intense change, which might explain that unsettling feeling you picked up on. Do you feel these strange… are they bees, perhaps? Do they amplify that unease? Editor: Yes, definitely. The swarm adds to the tension. It's not the peaceful golden hour one might expect. Curator: Precisely! They're not docile pollinators. The loose brushstrokes, the almost frenetic energy… It feels less like a straightforward landscape and more like an internal landscape. It suggests that "good" isn't necessarily serene. It could even be seen as volatile or fragile; that moment of fleeting beauty just before everything goes dark. Almost tauntingly sweet before a bite. Holosiy captures a deeper and slightly melancholic mood by playing with his technique, it almost evokes a bittersweet feeling of nostalgia Editor: So the title might be ironic? It's fascinating to think about how personal and historical context could re-frame something so visual. Curator: Or perhaps… hopeful? It’s all down to where your honey is. Thanks to this, I will have some dreams involving gigantic bees for the next few days! Editor: Definitely! I’ll need to consider artwork titles more, along with a good night's sleep after this.