Untitled 2022

This ink drawing by Alevtyna Kakhidze is a whirlwind of text and image, full of political commentary and personal reflection. It’s all laid down with a nervous, energetic line. The red ink really pops, creating these directional arrows that fight with the text and the other sketched elements. The drawing feels immediate, like a thought process made visible. You can sense the artist working through ideas, almost like automatic writing, but with images! The texture is all in the line – scratchy, uneven, but also confident in its way. It reminds me of artists like Raymond Pettibon, who also use drawing and text to create these complex, layered narratives. I keep coming back to the figure in the centre, with the downcast expression and wing-like appendages. It’s a powerful, ambiguous image that speaks to the complexities of cultural identity and political resistance. Like all good art, it raises more questions than it answers and embraces ambiguity.