Untitled 2022

Curator: At first glance, there is a childlike quality, a stark contrast between innocent playfulness and deeply disturbing themes. Editor: Yes, exactly. We're looking at Alevtyna Kakhidze's "Untitled," a work rendered in ink and drawing on paper from 2022. Kakhidze is a Ukrainian artist, and this piece undoubtedly reflects the ongoing socio-political turmoil in the region. Curator: The creature in Russian colors looming over the globe, dripping what looks like blood, that image certainly stays with you. Then you read words like "Ukraine" or "Russia," countries surrounding the shape. It hits even harder then, the realization dawns. It is not about some imaginary monster, but our own history and choices that shape this world for the better or worse. Editor: The cartoonish figures surrounding it feel so vulnerable. I immediately think of the political history of contested borders, of imperial expansion manifesting as brutal occupation and the mass displacement that it creates. What’s compelling here is Kakhidze giving visibility to the power dynamics that affect not just Ukrainians but also those in neighboring countries. Curator: Absolutely. The piece operates on so many levels. There is the immediacy of the drawn line, almost like a cry for help sketched onto the page. Then there’s the historical weight of centuries of conflict represented in the color choices of the dragon, as you noticed earlier. Finally, it speaks about refugees who seek peace across different countries as is seen through “Welcome” in German language. The scribbled words interspersed throughout, some Cyrillic, some Roman script, emphasize a sense of urgency, of stories needing to be told and truths to be faced. Editor: It brings into sharp relief the way contemporary art can become a mirror, reflecting the anxieties and the struggles of a particular moment. And even in its darkness, this "Untitled" manages to convey a potent message of resistance and a refusal to be silenced. Curator: And this work urges to critically examine our roles in perpetuating systems of oppression but also provides some glimpses of hope. It's a powerful and thought-provoking piece that leaves a lasting impression.