Hexagram 5 1985

Oleksandr Aksinin made this print called *Hexagram 5,* using delicate hatching in brown ink, building up tone with what looks like thousands of tiny marks. The way the artist creates these textures reminds me of the meditative, repetitive motions of knitting, or even the intricate patterns of a Persian rug. Look at how the light is described on the figure's robes and the vertical bars, with only the lightest of touches. The artist uses these fine lines to delineate the folds of the fabric and the cylindrical forms. Then, notice how the areas surrounding these figures are filled with a dense, almost granular texture. This contrast makes the central forms seem to float in the space. That single, vertical line with a dot above it pulls your eye right through the composition, creating a sense of both tension and balance. It’s as if Aksinin is inviting us to contemplate the spaces between things, the connections that aren't immediately apparent. It recalls the work of Paul Klee, who also sought to capture the invisible energies that animate the world. Aksinin embraces a similar ambiguity.