Untitled 2022

Alevtyna Kakhidze made this drawing in 2022 with what looks like felt tip pens and pencils on paper. There's a childlike quality to the drawing style, but it's overlaid with a biting political commentary. The wonky lettering of "Ukraine" and "Russia" is juxtaposed with the earnest plea written in a word bubble, urging western politicians to close the Belarus/Russia border with EU goods. I love the raw urgency of the line work – the way the tanks are rendered with just a few quick strokes, the spindly figures with their arms raised in supplication. Everything feels immediate, like a snapshot of a thought or a feeling. The inclusion of consumer brands like Nutella, Bosch, and Siemens adds a layer of complexity. Are they symbols of Western decadence, or are they meant to highlight the hypocrisy of continuing trade relations during a time of conflict? This piece reminds me of the work of Philip Guston, another artist who embraced a more direct, cartoonish style in his later years to address difficult subject matter. Both artists remind us that art doesn't always have to be polished or refined to be powerful. Sometimes, the most effective works are the ones that feel the most raw and unfiltered.