Exlibris of L.Beketov 1979

Oleksandr Aksinin created this bookplate for L. Beketov in 1979, using the etching technique. Aksinin was part of a generation of Ukrainian artists who lived and worked under Soviet rule. The bookplate presents a complex arrangement of geometric and organic forms. Notice how Aksinin divides the circles into halves with contrasting textures and patterns. It is a symbolic representation of duality, a concept that Aksinin frequently explored in his work, and which reflects the tightrope that artists had to walk during the Soviet era. The ladders suggest the struggle for upward mobility and freedom of expression within a restrictive system. Aksinin said "I believe that art should reflect not only the external world but also the internal, spiritual life of a person." The bookplate's intricate details invite us into a world of hidden meanings, where personal identity and cultural context are inextricably linked. It reminds us of the emotional and intellectual resilience required to create art under duress.