Untitled 2018

Alevtyna Kakhidze made this untitled drawing on paper in 2015, using the most basic of art supplies. The work's character is defined by the immediacy of its making, through the direct application of ink onto the page. The thin lines are like a contour map of the artist’s consciousness, charting the course of her attention. The chosen materials democratize the means of artistic production: all that is needed is ink and paper. Yet, it is important to remember that these seemingly simple tools are also products of industry. The production of paper and ink is deeply connected to global supply chains and labor practices, with workers often facing exploitation and unsafe conditions. Despite the work's modest scale, it is embedded in a complex web of social and economic relations. By drawing attention to the everyday, Kakhidze's work challenges traditional distinctions between fine art and craft, inviting us to reflect on the social and material conditions that shape our creative endeavors.