Embrace the sea, 2026

Olha Symonenko  

This painting is a contemporary figurative painting centered on two human figures and their intimate interaction within a coastal landscape.
At the center of the composition, a man gently carries a woman in his arms through tall golden grasses toward the sea. The woman, dressed in a delicate polka-dot dress, embraces him around the neck. Their intertwined bodies and natural gestures form the primary subject of the painting, conveying tenderness, trust, and emotional closeness.
The couple is viewed from behind, with their figures clearly defined against the warm grasses and open coastal landscape. In the distance, a calm blue sea stretches beneath a light sky, accompanied by small white sailboats and softly defined mountain silhouettes. The natural setting creates a spacious contrast to the intimate human interaction in the foreground.
The painting combines expressive figurative treatment with soft modeling of light and shadow. Beige and gray tones of the man's shirt and deep blue of his jeans contrast with the warm ochre and golden tones of the dry grasses. Turquoise and blue tones of the sea introduce a cool counterpoint and create a sense of depth and fresh coastal air.
A distinctive feature of the work is the tactile treatment of the vegetation. Raised spiral-like patterns are incised into the painted surface across the dry grasses in the foreground and middle ground, creating rhythmic grooves and a subtle sense of movement. This textured treatment contrasts with the smoother modeling of the human figures, making their forms stand out within the landscape.
The work focuses on the human relationship at the heart of the scene: a moment of physical closeness, trust, and tenderness between two people. The coastal landscape serves as a natural setting for this intimate encounter, while the figures remain the central visual and emotional focus of the composition.