Margins of a Forgotten May, 2026

Olena Kishkurno  

Shipped rolled in a tube.
From the "Inner Landscapes" series
Margins of a Forgotten May is a profound visual exploration into the metaphysics of memory—capturing those subtle, fleeting states that elude verbal description yet resonate as deep sensory recognition. This work is rooted in a compelling personal narrative: frames captured on film decades ago, only to be developed and "re-remembered" through the lens of time, eventually finding their physical incarnation on this canvas.
"When the school summer holidays began, my family and I would head out of town. And there it was—the very first morning in nature. You wake up early and walk down to the river. The dazzling sun breaks through the tree canopies, the air is crystal fresh, smelling of the forest. The morning is just beginning, and ahead lies an entire summer, the holidays, and the anticipation of a new, wonderful life." — Artist's Memory
In this piece, the landscape does not depict a geographical location but recreates the actual process of "developing" a memory. Balancing masterfully between Abstract Impressionism and Lyrical Abstraction, the composition is built upon a rhythmic dance of gestural marks and a sophisticated pastel palette.
The ethereal light blue hues and turquoise flashes evoke the sensation of transparent air and water, immersed in a gentle mist of time. Expressive brushstrokes and thin, vertical lines draw from an intuitive, gestural style, where the energy and dynamics of the moment take precedence over form. These rhythmic markings visualize the morning birdsong and the rustle of reeds piercing the pre-dawn silence.
As part of the Inner Landscapes series, the work treats nature as a mirror for an inner state—one of clarity, stillness, and trembling anticipation. It is a contemplative and deeply intimate piece that opens a space of unconditional safety, where nature awakens in tender colors. Serving as a visual anchor for serenity, it seamlessly integrates into a modern minimalist interior, filling the space with the soft energy of renewal and joy.