Exlibris of V.Humenny 1978

Curator: This is Oleksandr Aksinin’s “Exlibris of V.Humenny,” a 1978 engraving print. The image is quite striking; what’s your initial reaction? Editor: I find the form oddly compelling. It is essentially a vertical, geometric shape—a strange elongated hexagon that morphs into a kind of pencil point. Curator: Indeed. It is tempting to see Aksinin commenting on artistic creation itself. His choice of engraving, a laborious printmaking technique, suggests a connection to craft and artisanal skill. Editor: Perhaps, but the meticulous lines and tonal gradations also point to a highly refined aesthetic sensibility. Look how he plays with light and shadow to define the planes. Curator: Certainly. And we cannot forget the socio-political environment. Remember, this work was made in the Soviet Union. The tools of art and literature often become stand-ins for prohibited forms of expression. Editor: I am especially intrigued by that architectural space he creates, a seemingly habitable structure within this geometric… monolith, if you will. Curator: Exactly. A space, even a confined one, for intellectual freedom? What is that figure on the left doing? Editor: Good eye. I see a diminutive figure who looks like he’s climbing around… almost like escaping from a window? It creates a striking contrast to the monumental quality of the geometric edifice. Curator: Precisely. Perhaps it’s a subversive nod to personal escape within a controlling system. We could spend a lot of time figuring out the significance of each textural mark here as the sign of careful labor. Editor: Indeed. It’s a deceptively complex little artwork. Curator: Definitely, seeing the process-oriented background is intriguing. Editor: This reminds us that art-making is multifaceted and not all about inherent beauty but labor.