Sheet 'S' from the album 'Ukrainian alphabet' 1917

Heorhiy Narbut made this image, ‘Sheet S’ from the album 'Ukrainian alphabet', as a print. It’s all lines, like a coloring book in reverse! I love the way Narbut uses line to create a sense of volume and texture, like with the elephant’s wrinkly skin. This work reminds me that artmaking is about process. Each line, each mark, is a decision, a step in a journey. The elephant stands on a little hill, and on the hill are all these things: a chest, a samovar, a chair... The lines on the hill look like streams of water, as if it is dissolving. This reminds me of the way art can wash over us, changing how we see the world. It is almost like the elephant is dreaming this image up. Narbut, with his focus on design and typography, feels like he’s in conversation with folks like El Lissitzky, who also played with letters and images. This piece makes me think about art as a conversation across time. It's about keeping the dialogue open, embracing the unknown, and letting the art lead you where it may.