Mykola Tregub was a Ukrainian painter, a non-conformist, and a bright representative of the Kyiv underground of the 1970s. The main topic of his works is the understanding of human existence in disturbing conditions. Moreover, the artist supported the idea of freedom of expression and the search for his own style.
‘Relatives’ is Trehub's reflection on his family history, which was told to him in detail by his mother and aunt. In 1932-1933, the family experienced the Holodomor tragedy: the artist's mother's parents and four of her brothers and sisters died. Trehub depicts figures in the painting. We do not see clear face details in them. These are constructed images of people from stories or memories. The red spots are like bloodstains that cover some of the figures. Every Ukrainian family has tragic stories of missing, injured, and dead people.
