Untitled 2022

This 'Untitled' drawing by Alevtyna Kakhidze is made using what looks like marker pen, a playful and immediate medium that invites spontaneity and improvisation. The color palette is kept simple with tones of brown, grey, red and a little blue, giving it a slightly faded, nostalgic quality. I love the way the rooster emerges from this bulbous, black form – is it a vase, or some kind of strange, oversized ashtray? The ink is quite dense in places, especially in the rooster's container, creating a feeling of weight and solidity, while the rest of the composition is lighter, more airy. Notice the slightly wobbly lines, the way the colors bleed and blend into each other. There's a certain vulnerability to the work, a kind of rough-around-the-edges charm that reminds me a little of outsider art. You can almost feel the artist's hand moving across the paper, making decisions on the fly, embracing imperfection and chance. Which is why this piece feels so authentic and refreshing to me.