Fish 1979

Curator: Oleksandr Aksinin's "Fish," a drawing from 1979, presents a compelling blend of abstraction and figuration. What are your initial thoughts? Editor: My first impression is its captivating duality. The stark contrast of light and dark halves, coupled with the circular form, creates a sense of balance and tension, almost like two opposing forces contained within a single frame. It feels incredibly symbolic. Curator: Indeed. Aksinin, working within the socio-political constraints of the Soviet Union, often embedded subtle critiques within his art. This piece reflects an interest in both geometric abstraction, a language that was internationally understood, and traditional Ukrainian imagery. The figure of the fish also has a deep history of symbolism and religious meaning. Editor: It’s interesting that you mention the socio-political context. This "duality" could represent the division and restricted freedoms within Ukrainian society during that period, reflecting internal conflicts in the face of imposed ideologies. Are the fish meant to escape? Do the concentric rings represent power structures of control, or the natural cyclical changes? Curator: Aksinin’s technique, resembling an old engraving style with delicate ink and pencil work, gives it a timeless quality. The formal properties and stark black and white lend this artwork a connection to works created in the graphic style and illustrative arts of prior centuries. But let’s not dismiss its modernity! Editor: And perhaps the somewhat concealed nature of the "fish," not immediately obvious to the casual observer, acted as a means to protect it from those in authority. Are these merely "fish," or is Aksinin providing an escape valve from cultural imprisonment and oppression? Curator: Precisely! Its placement suggests the interplay between surface appearance and hidden meanings which allows the drawing to speak to complex truths. It offers more than decoration – the drawing functions as a nuanced commentary during the soviet times in Ukraine, making viewers reconsider its political climate. Editor: In looking closer, one cannot deny a powerful social and political narrative about restricted liberty and covert protest in his delicate rendering of dualisms in "Fish." Its formal properties and symbolic potential, in my view, contribute to its sustained relevance. Curator: And seeing how artistic boundaries have expanded with the politics of representation and cultural values embedded in the arts is invaluable as we view contemporary political circumstances around the globe. Editor: Agreed.