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An energetic, expressionist painting inspired by real statues – blue, praying, is the artist; the red torso created later is his former lover. Over time the painting transformed and took on different meanings. "I've always enjoyed making a model as a sculpture and then painting it – I've done that many times – and today I was inspired by Tintoretto and his small backdrops for his large paintings. Statues are my fate, just like painting." This painting is one of the last from the artist's early work of the late 1980s to still be in his possession. It was first exhibited at the unofficial Confrontations I exhibition on 31 October 1984 on Krymská Street, which the Czechoslovak Secret Police closed to the public on 4 November 1984. This is how the names became known of the "New Wave" painters, who were distinctive for their sensual, emotional and expressive painting style. The roots of Martin Mainer's work can be found in the 1980s generation, which played an important role in shaping the art scene following the Velvet Revolution. The artist found early inspiration in the expressiveness of Czech Baroque painting. After receiving the Jindřich Chalupecký Award in 1993 he went to California on an internship, where he met philosopher Richard Alpert (Ram Dass). This fundamental inspiration with Indian and Eastern philosophy influences his work to this day. Another important feature is his sensitive approach to the selection of material, which he chooses based on his relationship to the environment in which the painting is created (such as paper folders for patient medical histories, wax paper for electricians, paint produced from Alpine rocks, copier toner or foam mattresses). Martin Mainer is a professor at the Academy of Fine Art in Prague – Painting Studio IV; his work and educational activities rank him among the most important figures in contemporary Czech art. Quoted from correspondence with the artist.