Martyr of Desire (2024) Painting by Oleksandr Balbyshev
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Original Artwork (One Of A Kind)
Painting,
Oil
on Canvas
- Dimensions Height 47.2in, Width 35.4in
- Artwork's condition The artwork is in perfect condition
- Framing This artwork is not framed
- Categories Paintings under $20,000 Expressionism Nude
About the artwork
This painting is not merely an ode to the male form; it is a meditation on vulnerability, identity, and the relentless search for acceptance in a world that often marginalizes difference. The man depicted—his body vibrant with bold colors, his pose reminiscent of Renaissance martyrdom—is suspended between beauty and anguish, defiance and surrender.
The hand resting on his thigh speaks of intimacy, a tender yet provocative gesture that questions societal taboos surrounding the male body. The slightly tilted head, the sorrowful gaze turned upwards, conveys a silent yearning—a plea for understanding, for liberation from imposed judgments.
The abstract background encroaching upon the body represents the societal labels and expectations that threaten to obscure individuality. Yet, these colors are not merely oppressive; they are alive, dynamic, signifying the unyielding spirit to reclaim space, to transform vulnerability into power.
This work reflects my experience and the experiences of many others: navigating a world that venerates the body in one breath and vilifies it in the next. Through this painting, I aim to confront the paradox of sacredness and sensuality, to challenge outdated notions of masculinity, and to celebrate the raw, undeniable beauty of authenticity.
It is my hope that this image resonates not only as a visual representation of the male form but as a universal symbol of the struggle for self-acceptance and the courage it takes to simply be.
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Related themes
Oleksandr Balbyshev is a contemporary Ukrainian artist. The most important themes in Balbyshev’s art are male sexuality and sensuality. Artist wants the viewer to see the realm of ideas in faces and bodies, not only a realistic image of a human. He tries to combine in his paintings realities, as visions of worlds within worlds. They show us an image of ourselves and also hint that there is more to us than we know.
Oleksandr Balbyshev is famous for transforming classical Soviet-era portraits of Lenin into highly decorative and chaotic works of art. Artist finds original portraits and sculptures of Lenin made in the Soviet era on flea markets and on announcements on the Internet. He paints on top of old portraits of Lenin fragments from famous paintings or drip paint on them, cut the canvases into pieces and glue them in a chaotic manner, let them paint them for children, he paints the sculptures in funny colors and glues them with various objects. As a result of this artistic gesture, the artist erases the propaganda and ideological meanings of the image, at the same time endowing it with decorative qualities. However, with all the fun of this manipulation, the artwork acquires new meanings, an antinomical combination of play and seriousness, prompting the viewer to go beyond the accepted paradigm.
Oleksandr Balbyshev was born in 1985 in Ukraine. His paintings are in private collections in the USA, Canada, United Kingdom, Germany, Netherlands, France, Italy, Spain, Switzerland, Portugal, Greece, Austria, Sweden, Finland, Czech Republic, Croatia, South Africa, Thailand, Singapore, Australia, Mexico, and Japan.
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Nationality:
UKRAINE
- Date of birth : 1985
- Artistic domains:
- Groups: Ukrainian Contemporary Artists
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