Tempera and fluorescent pigments on canvas. 2013. 70 х 80 cm

People who knew Thelonius Monk in person were always saying that he was very strange person. I think this type of character was the consequence of his extraordinary statement of focus, just not here, not on this Earth. I think he was definitely hearing music from other worlds. It’s so obvious that at “The concert in Denmark” his fingers running by the keyboards lightly, he is staring into space transcendentally, suddenly his face changes with happy smile just for short moment, but that’s the moment, when he gets something from out there. From this moment whole different music starts. I painted this moment, because I think that’s the sense of his music, this short second of time, when creator gets his idea from out there…