M ART 1983

Oleksandr Aksinin made this etching, "M ART," which has a kind of delicate, obsessive quality in its details. Looking at it, you can almost feel the scratching of the needle on the plate, creating this weird, surreal landscape. The texture is amazing; it’s all built up from tiny dots and lines, a real labour of love. The monochromatic palette gives it a timeless feel, like an old photograph or a dream. I’m drawn to the way Aksinin uses these simple marks to create depth and shadow. Notice how the figure seems to be interacting with the surface it's standing on, probing it with a kind of inquisitive touch. I love how this one concentrated area of mark-making can create such a sense of curiosity, making you want to lean in closer and figure out the riddle of the image. There's something about Aksinin’s work that reminds me of Paul Klee, that same playful exploration of line and form, where the process becomes part of the poetry. It's a reminder that art doesn't always need to be loud or bombastic; sometimes, it's the quiet, subtle gestures that speak the loudest.