Wells 1 1983

Oleksandr Aksinin created this intriguing geometric rendering of a well, with ink on paper, sometime before 1985. At first glance, the twin wells appear as simple containers, but the well in art has been so often a symbol of profound depths, both literal and psychological. Across cultures, water from a well is not only essential for survival, but also symbolically tied to purity and transformation. Think of ancient myths where sacred wells possess healing powers, reflecting a deep-seated human need to draw from hidden sources of life. The verticality of the well, reaching down into the earth, has often mirrored a descent into the subconscious. This act of drawing water mirrors the psychoanalytic journey of unearthing hidden truths. Perhaps Aksinin is inviting us to contemplate not just the physical structure of the well, but its deeper resonance within the collective human experience. The very act of seeking water becomes a metaphor for seeking knowledge and understanding.