Untitled 2022

Alevtyna Kakhidze made this untitled drawing with what looks like felt tip pens, and I think it shows artmaking as a process that is immediate, responsive, and raw. The lines are wiry and the drawing has a lightness about it. It’s as if Kakhidze is working something out here, not trying to make something perfect or pristine, but more in the spirit of a conversation. I like how the text is integrated with the figures. It’s as though the words are actions, and the figures are speaking the words. There's a red exclamation point at the bottom, almost like a signature but maybe also an expression of frustration. This piece reminds me of other artists who combine text and image like Raymond Pettibon or David Shrigley. It embraces ambiguity and multiple interpretations, and it becomes a visual statement about a very complex situation.