Friend Zone

Artist Aleksandr Mukhin shares this short story about the painting: Henry found himself alone among palm trees, coconuts, and unfamiliar faces when he arrived on the island. He felt a deep sense of loneliness and longed to find a woman with whom he could share his time. But where does one look for companionship on an island? One evening, Henry went to a club. Among the crowd of locals and tourists, his attention was drawn to just one woman. She was dancing closely with a tall, broad-shouldered, tattooed Englishman, completely lost in the music. At that moment, Henry decided not to approach her. Instead, the scene left a strong impression on him and later became the inspiration for his artwork.