Today we visited The Museum of Russia Art, which was hosting a “popup exhibition” of Leon Hushcha’s work, only 5 days long. As this is the second to last day, this post is not so much to urge you to visit as to report on what we saw for future reference.
Leon Hushcha (sample portfolio here) is a Minneapolis-based Russian artist who loves bright, yet subtly changing colors, working in paint and collage, often onto wood surfaces which he lightly carves before painting. It gives his work a nuanced 3-D effect. Often they appeared to be covered in a varnish or other surface application, which enhanced the effects. The results are not always immediately obvious, although as a non-artist myself perhaps my observations don’t apply, but I would, under the guidance of my Arts Editor, begin to discern the running horses, or the chain link fence deep in the lake (a personal favorite just because it snuck up on me).
Subject matter ranged from a gorgeous red abstract to, in a repeated theme, women with fish on their heads – a puzzler, to be sure.
In the end, though, it was a fascinating exhibit.
And now from my Arts Editor …
Special mention has to be made of the artist’s use of heavy impasto, pointillism and scratchboard-like effects. This, along with his use of carved panels with paint or mixed media applied to the surface, gives the artworks a striking dimensionality and immediacy not typical of Russian art. I also appreciated his eye-searingly bright color palette, turquoise, magenta and sunflower yellow predominant, with a scattering of colored glitter for effect.
Hushcha has been making art for most of his 8070-year lifespan, and it’s interesting to see the consistency of his vision throughout the decades. I’d highly recommend seeing some of his works, if you get the chance.
