SEA-BREEZE

  The element of these canvases is air: unbounded wind. The heavy mass of dark water is swaying in the rhythm of sea breathing, transparent wave, runs and splashes on the sand, rising foam breaks into a cloud of tiny drops of water, the shining sand moves slowly in layers, the brightness of the morning sun reflects on the shallow-water. .. And you, if you are in the know, how all this is reproduced in colors on the canvas, will point out for yourself the mastery performed facture and technical modes of the monumental painting, up to a simple aerosol dusting of paint.
  Konstantin Isikov graduated from Lviv Academy of Arts, department of monumental painting in 2000. Participant of art exhibitions in Kiev, Krakow, Wroclaw, where his art received a high appraisal. There is no lack of financial success also, "marines" of this artist are as representative, as they are romantic. These paintings belong to the newest trend, when "art for art's sake" acquires the definite traces of "applied " art.
  As a matter of fact, the monumental painting as such relates to the applied genre, and this schooling could not but show itself in the easel painting of the artist. The high level of generalization at the decorative, sometimes even slightly exaggerated , emphasis of detail - is characteristic for the painter. Same with the color: now of an extremely complicated mixture, then almost open - "painted plane'7. This is accepted in the monumental painting, and Konstantin Isikov skillfully and not importunately applies this method.
  "Marines" of K. Isikov enchant by the richness of color, fantasy of colors, extraordinary deep shades of color: once - a heavy mystic gloominess, sometimes -exulting, euphoric clearness. His sea might be a dream. For the artist K. Isikov it really is — a sea of dreaming: virtual sea, sea - myth.
  It is clearly shown that these "marines" are composed on the panoramic principle: as if a landscape is taken by a panoramic camera. There are other photography( movie) methods present - like "influxes" and "double expositions". Collage principle is also applied. All this enables the artist, and an onlooker after him, to take in the boundless space by sight - and to see "that, what is not here". Thus, we see in front of us not a landscape, in the strict genre sense, not the depiction of a place, but specifically "a sea image". The system, chosen by this artist, for the expression of his ideas and feelings, suggests a line of association , not a literal meaning.
  A frequent subject motive of these canvases is an aerostat fragment: either the one landing on the wave, or... the one coming up from the depth ! The flying , living in the clouds yacht seals are seen even more often. Yacht image is a symbol of lightness, bravery and spontaneity, of something not obligatory : yacht is a luxury, it's not for freight or passengers. It is daring - and vulnerable, it is free and willful. Same as elements. The painting cycle of Konstantin Isikov "The game of sails" is dedicated to this theme.
  The lighthouses and bare rocks; the stone city terraces are growing, coming out from the rocks. The quicksand and dry grass resisting the wind ... Impetuosity, sweeping gush in all their structure. What is interesting - it's often that there is no sky in his "marines": all space of the paintings is occupied by water. But water reflects the sky. That is why piercing the worlds vertical is always present in the horizontal panorama of Isikov: his world is striving upwards.
  One more permanent motive of the painting cycle of Isikov is a lighthouse. Hope, faith... Something, which will not allow the irrepressible , willful and fragile yacht to be a toy and a gain of a water abyss...

Valentina Levchuk