Hexagram 41 1985

Curator: This compelling drawing, “Hexagram 41,” was completed in 1985 by Oleksandr Aksinin. The piece is made with ink on paper, using geometric and symbolic figurations. Editor: There’s something unsettling about the composition, with that slumped-over, almost architectural form. And is that a dice resting near its limp hand? Curator: Aksinin was part of the Lviv graphic art school, and his work often reflected the dissident intellectual circles operating within the late Soviet Union. The symbolism is rich, though at times obscured. You can clearly read it through the historical lens of Soviet oppression. Editor: It feels like a dreamscape populated with the detritus of power. What strikes me is how the flower at the top contrasts so sharply with the rest of the scene. Like a beacon of fragile hope in a suffocating atmosphere. Curator: Exactly. And the text running along the bottom acts almost like a barrier, doesn’t it? An obstruction to clear understanding or freedom of thought. Editor: Do you see it as a critique of the political regime, or a wider statement on the human condition? The dice especially hints at the inherent risks and absurdities that permeate even quotidian activities. Curator: I see both at play. Aksinin experienced censorship, and “Hexagram 41,” in its visual language, hints at a societal state of decay, mirroring the larger anxieties regarding freedom. But it also points to personal experiences, with recurring imagery such as human figures combined with architectural fragments. Editor: This makes sense. Knowing the context adds a layer of gravity to this haunting image. Aksinin transformed these personal and socio-political frustrations into potent and universally relatable symbolic works. Curator: Definitely. It stands as a potent commentary on power, oppression, and the enduring strength of the human spirit during an era of repression. Editor: Looking at it now, one can't help but imagine the brave figures working underground, finding in these artistic pieces new ways to navigate harsh political realities.