Untitled 2022

Curator: What catches my eye immediately is the hand-drawn style—it's almost childlike in its simplicity, but incredibly powerful in conveying a sense of anxiety and urgency. Editor: Indeed. The Ukrainian artist Alevtyna Kakhidze created this work, known as "Untitled," in 2022, utilizing ink on paper. I am struck by the contrast between the crude almost hasty lines and the deeply serious subject matter of displacement and conflict. It's rendered as a comic strip sketch, a reflection on political and social reality. Curator: The figures are so reduced, almost stick-like, which paradoxically makes them seem universal, representing anyone fleeing conflict. I am thinking about the impact of war on civilians, a grim reflection on themes of migration and the desperation driving it. Editor: Exactly, the drawing juxtaposes “Germany” with a mass of people fleeing from “Russia.” We see signs that seem to denote quotas, maybe? And the equation "+Visa = - Soldier". It also references a common derogatory narrative of migrants depicted as vermin: “They are HUMAN Beings, NOT RATS...WE RUN ALL...”. It encapsulates a profound sense of fear and dehumanization. What’s so striking is the use of narrative art. The format is immediately accessible. Curator: I see the composition with a strong sense of motion, the figures drawn to Germany contrasting sharply with the still rat figure rendered in a threatening red hue. What considerations went into placing the image in our exhibition? Editor: This piece generates important dialogues about forced displacement and challenges us to contemplate our responsibilities in such crises. The immediacy of its execution brings home the urgent need for compassion and humanization. Its raw honesty is important. Curator: Looking again, this deceptively simple drawing powerfully expresses a complex and deeply troubling situation. Its inclusion hopefully expands the way visitors engage with narratives surrounding migration and geopolitical conflict. Editor: I think that’s right, it’s a potent visual statement—a grim contemporary memento and a stark call for empathy.