Exlibris of Iryna Smaga 1981

Curator: This is Oleksandr Aksinin’s 1981 drawing, “Exlibris of Iryna Smaga.” It’s rendered in ink, with techniques that evoke old engraving styles. Editor: My first impression is unsettling elegance—like peering into the elegant mechanics of a very strange organism. Curator: Indeed. Consider the careful balance: a bilaterally symmetrical abstract form dominates, surrounded by these repeated shapes like stylized lightbulbs or teardrops. There's a pronounced vertical axis anchored by darker shading, all contained within an oval field. The texture is very interesting: detailed, scaled patterns offset smooth sections to catch your eye. Editor: And all that meticulous detail invites deeper thought. Aksinin was working during the Soviet era, where art was often heavily controlled. This piece, commissioned as an ex libris, or bookplate, seems to hint at coded meanings—symbols of illumination and creativity struggling within imposed boundaries, don't you think? Curator: Certainly, symbolism is present. I'm drawn to the craftsmanship. The contrasting tones—crisp white against solid black—enhance the overall graphic impact. Note the rhythmic interplay of the negative and positive space, creating this complex interplay. Editor: Exactly! Look at the name, Iryna Smaga. This could be a fellow artist, an intellectual... perhaps a figure actively involved in disseminating dissenting ideas through the ostensibly private realm of books and their ownership. This could also reference gender dynamics in Ukraine during this era, potentially symbolizing a feminine critique. Curator: It's this close engagement with materiality, especially within its stylistic framework, that I find particularly engaging. These abstract forms aren't simply floating, they're firmly planted by ink on paper. Editor: I agree. What begins as an image of rigid geometric structure melts into so much more—history, rebellion, and resilience become embedded into every stroke of the ink.