Exlibris of U.Birulev 1977

Oleksandr Aksinin made this black and white print titled 'Exlibris of U.Birulev' sometime in his short life. He died young, at only 35. Looking at the marks made by the etching process I am reminded of artists such as Piranesi, with his cavernous architectural views. Aksinin creates a surreal landscape populated by strange creatures and objects. There's a figure climbing a ladder, surrounded by orbs, and in the foreground are two bulbous forms that look like pears. What was Aksinin thinking when he made this? He was part of a generation of Ukrainian artists experimenting with graphic art, and who, like many artists, was influenced by his predecessors, and he, in turn, influences other artists. Etching is really a labor-intensive process, like life itself. It demands time, patience, and skill, but it is a wonderful medium, allowing for so many tiny details. These marks form tones, textures, and ultimately, they create a little world.