Untitled 2022

This untitled drawing was made by Alevtyna Kakhidze on April 14, 2022. Its political message connects to a social and cultural context defined by Russia’s war in Ukraine. The image creates meaning through direct and urgent language. In the style of protest art, a citizen in Europe is quoted, demanding an immediate halt to the purchase of Russian gas, condemning the heating of homes with what they call “Ukrainian blood”. We see the image of a banner stretched between what appears to be a gas pipe colored in Russian blue, and another in red. The drawing is self-consciously progressive in its critique of European energy policy at a time of war, implicating it in the bloodshed. The study of political art such as this requires careful research into the cultural and historical context. Online archives, news media, and scholarly analysis are vital resources. This art reminds us that its meaning is deeply rooted in social and institutional conditions.