The Fourth 'Book of Schemes'. Album #1, the Second Folder 1978

This page of ink drawings by Valerii Lamakh, one of many from his 'Book of Schemes', invites us into the artist's mind, a playful space where basic elements evolve into complex arrangements. I can imagine Lamakh at his desk, perhaps in moments stolen from other work, experimenting with variations on a theme, almost like musical scales. He begins with simple lines and squares, gradually adding complexity, transforming the page into a field of geometric possibilities. There’s something methodical yet intuitive in this progression, a searching for patterns and structure. I love the imperfections, how the hand wavers, giving each square its distinct character. Thinking about Sol LeWitt, Agnes Martin, and other artists who explored systematic approaches, I wonder if Lamakh was also driven by a similar desire to find order or meaning. But instead of the grand gesture, he offers us a quiet, intimate exploration, an invitation to get lost in the simple beauty of lines and squares. It’s in these small acts of creation that we can find the most profound connections to the artist's world.