Untitled 

Editor: Here we have an untitled drawing by Alevtyna Kakhidze, done with ink on paper. It's very text-heavy, almost like a comic or poster. I'm immediately struck by the bold, red letters spelling out what I believe is "Gender." What do you make of this artwork? Curator: I see a fascinating interplay of text and image, clearly laden with cultural meaning. The artist employs lettering and figuration to trigger visual memory, and convey, perhaps, personal and collective understandings of gender. Notice how the bold letters serve almost as a stage. Who are these figures enacting a visual drama, and what symbols do they bring to it? Editor: They seem to be different characters or stereotypes almost, with a sort of awkwardness and conflict emerging, and that may relate to gender? I also see a number of question marks. Curator: Precisely! The use of questions suggests an interrogation, and even a questioning, of established societal roles. Are the characters familiar to you, perhaps in a historical or cultural sense? Do you find an interaction between word and figure? How do they seem to reinforce each other? Editor: Now that you mention it, the figure in what looks like a nun's habit, holding a cross... it seems like a symbol of religious conservatism placed in opposition to more contemporary figures on the other side, creating a binary. The text itself is like graffiti, hinting at a modern form of expression, yet the overall composition suggests a deeper historical continuity. Curator: Exactly. By using seemingly disparate visual languages, the artist creates tension. A dialogue seems to exist, inviting us to examine how traditional beliefs intersect with modern understandings. Perhaps identity is not fixed but rather negotiated. Editor: It’s really insightful how you connected these visual cues to larger themes. Now, I'm definitely more aware of the push and pull between the symbols and messages embedded within this work. Curator: And I’m reminded how potent the interplay between personal and cultural symbols can be when engaging with such layered concepts!