This Painting serie by Nicholas Chistiakov represents a transition of realism to abstraction. Works characterized by extensive use of color and texture of the painterly surface. Striking brushstrokes are mixed with the rich translucent layers of paint. Subjects of works - portraits, nudes and landscapes. Human figures turned to abstraction, and in something reminiscent of rabid monsters. Inner life and experiences as if turned outwards to observe the mysterious world of human soul. Portraits are often executed with a few precise strokes of paint. The artist's works of this series are far from naturalism. In such works as "Midday suicide" the body of woman is transformed into abstracted form, with exaggerated attention on the sexual features and revealed eroticism. All devoid of sharp contours, the painterly game is a primary task for the artist. Painterly surface and brushstrokes are extremely rich and colorful. Continuing tradition of such masters as Francis Bacon and Diego Velazquez artist creates unforgettable worlds of human pain and glory of the living flesh, rich colorful semi-abstractions depicting life from the beginning to the end, from the cradle to the grave, from the sexual orgasm to painful death.
"I understand painting as experience of life. It shouldn't be just a colorful Arcadia without and signs of aging and death. Painting trying to be hard to make life easier than it is, experience of pain often helping to prevent pain. Human becoming better to each other when they understand pain, only when they understand pain of each other they becoming better. One of my favorite works is the Midday Suicide, it has various sources and it is truly timeless piece of art. It's title was inspired by the Swedish holiday titled Midsommer, but it's meaning completely opposite to that of a holiday. Another inspiration for this piece of art was seminal novel by Albert Camus, "The Stranger". The colors of painting suggest sun-loved beach at the middle of summer. We see the steel fence and exploding female figure behind this fence. I liked to depict young woman as she really is. Erotically attractive and self-loved. Her desires supercede her possibilities and she kills herself because of impossibility to satisfy her youthful desires of sex, money and glory. This is my explanation of this piece. Impossibility is alike this steel fence, observing the impossibility for a long time becoming stressful and killing young life. I wasn't trying to illustrate something or my explanation of this piece is not necessary the same thought one might have looking at. Phenomenon of impossibility and quick death is obviously depicted in this work of art. Everything in this piece is blended into abstraction. Figure of a young woman is an abstract everyone, there could be millions of women imagined in same situation. There is no certain place behind this fence and beach - there could be thousands of places like this in Europe, Asia and America. This piece is like and icon of human being, icon to the extreme desires which is impossible to fulfill, but this painting is a sort of fulfillment."