Untitled 2022

Curator: This artwork, simply titled "Untitled", was created in 2022 by Alevtyna Kakhidze. It is a mixed-media piece incorporating drawing, graphic art, and collage. My initial impression is stark simplicity—almost a raw, immediate feel. The high contrast black ink on white paper really jumps out. Editor: The use of mixed media underscores the urgent and collective nature of protest, speaking to the availability of art materials even in crisis. The rough lettering is also quite compelling. What’s your reading of this, placed within the larger socio-political context of activist art? Curator: Absolutely. The materials—ink, paper, even textile elements in other works by Kakhidze—are readily available and easily circulated. This highlights the democratization of art-making as a tool for resistance. It challenges notions of high art as a rarefied commodity, refocusing our attention on the message itself. Editor: Exactly. It situates itself firmly in activist art tradition, doesn’t it? I'm struck by how this piece functions as a call to action, almost like a flyer for a demonstration. The textual content clearly places it within anti-war movements. And I see a kind of poignant beauty here: the "Coalition of Cultural Workers Against the War in Ukraine." It acts as a stark reminder of cultural solidarity against war, echoing sentiments in feminist theory that "the personal is political." Curator: Yes, it functions very directly as a poster announcing an event. Consider too, that this "Coalition" likely operates with limited resources, possibly repurposing discarded materials. This gives their work even more weight when assessing impact vs material constraints. Editor: Considering the artwork's materials, do you find them to add significance, say as a means of critiquing labor conditions or a statement on conscious consumption within activist practices? Curator: Well, it can certainly speak to the economic constraints under which activists operate. Using basic, accessible materials speaks volumes about resourcefulness and prioritizing message over expensive medium. It reflects the labour involved is primarily intellectual and organizational rather than tied to specialized tools. Editor: Thank you. What stays with me is the inherent collectivity it signifies— the potential of many hands and minds joining forces for social change. Curator: For me, it's about how artistic creation can operate beyond traditional institutional structures.