Untitled 2022

Alevtyna Kakhidze made this drawing in black ink in an open notebook, and the simplicity of the line is really striking. It’s like a process of thinking made visible. The figures on each page are kind of floating there, anchored by those delicate lines describing their clothes, faces, and shoes. And the text, which I can’t read because it's not in English, is just as important as the figures themselves. It's like the drawing and the text are in a dance together, each one playing off the other. The ink looks a little uneven in places, which gives it a handmade feel, as though the artist was present in the work. I find myself thinking of other artists who use text and image in their work like Raymond Pettibon or maybe even some of the Fluxus artists, but Kakhidze’s drawing has a unique voice. It's a reminder that art doesn't always have to be loud or flashy to make an impact. Sometimes, the simplest gestures can be the most powerful.