The Exhibition: "Encaustic in a modern interpretation"
The Exhibition: Encaustic in a modern interpretation
Curator: Valentina Shaeva
Artist: Oleg Koulikov
Dates: 5-22 December 2024 11:00 - 20:00
Adress: 7 Kensington Mall, London
Encaustic in a Modern Interpretation is an exploration of the ancient technique of painting with molten wax, presented through a radically contemporary lens. Oleg Koulicov treats encaustic not as a museum relic but as a living, flexible artistic language capable of conveying urgent meanings and complex emotional states. Combining traditional craftsmanship with experimental pigments, layered textures, and unconventional surfaces, the artist transforms a method rooted in antiquity into a vehicle for bold, striking artistic statements. His works hover between abstraction and subtle figurative hints, drawing viewers into a dialogue that is both sensory and intellectual.
In the exhibition space, the surfaces of the works seem to breathe—layers of wax refract light, creating delicate shifts and a depth unattainable in other mediums. Koulicov’s virtuosity lies in his command of translucency, color saturation, and texture, shaping pieces where tactility and visuality are inseparably intertwined. Here, encaustic ceases to be a gesture of nostalgia and becomes a living, evolving artistic statement. The palette moves from restrained monochromatic harmonies to vivid, almost explosive chromatic outbursts, each piece charged with the physicality and energy that only the heat-and-layer process of encaustic can produce.
Curator Valentina Shaeva shapes the project with precision and decisiveness. She deliberately avoids confining the works to a purely historical frame, choosing instead to foreground their physical immediacy. The space is arranged to encourage slowing down and immersion: the works are given generous breathing room, and the lighting is meticulously calibrated to enhance the depth and reflective qualities of the wax. This curatorial choice—to present encaustic as a fully relevant medium of contemporary art rather than a craft-based relic—not only intensifies the impact of Koulicov’s works but also demonstrates Shaeva’s ability to connect the material history of art with today’s critical discourse.
We invite everyone to immerse themselves in the world of ecaustics and enjoy the colors and unique techniques of the ancient world!