Untitled 2017

Here we have an untitled work on paper by Alevtyna Kakhidze, which looks like it could be from a notebook or sketchbook. Red and black ink or marker dances across the page in what seems like a stream of consciousness, like a song. The work is all about the immediacy of mark making, and the artist's process feels open and free. There's an intimacy to it, like catching a glimpse into the artist’s private thoughts. You can almost hear her thinking. The drawing has got this raw, unfiltered quality. The little sheep-like doodle with a face is especially endearing. It reminds me of some of the drawings of Philip Guston, who also embraced a kind of playful, cartoonish style in his later work. Ultimately, this piece feels like a reminder that art doesn’t always have to be serious or monumental. It can be a simple, spontaneous expression of life, full of vulnerability and humor.