Untitled 2017

Curator: Alevtyna Kakhidze created this mixed-media drawing in 2017, and it’s simply titled "Untitled." What strikes you first about it? Editor: The contrasting styles and directions demand attention. One side feels like a raw, emotional outburst, the other a structured diagram, almost scientific. Curator: Exactly! Note the dynamism between the frenetic energy of the ink sketches and the clean, almost clinical precision of the hand-lettered text, alongside watercolor elements, all existing on paper. How do these mediums play with each other? Editor: The free-flowing ink contrasts sharply with the carefully plotted graph, a tension that suggests opposing modes of thinking or experiencing reality. It feels almost bipolar, reflecting fragmented inner states, rendered as distinct formal compositions. Curator: The narrative also hinges on the opposition of chaos and order, underscored by Kakhidze's visual grammar. Semiotically, the arrows pointing towards “time” versus “today” indicate a deliberate structure of contrasting elements. What impact does this duality generate? Editor: Considering the piece’s potential socio-political underpinnings is also pertinent. Post-Maidan Ukraine experienced intense restructuring – the piece, whether intentional or not, evokes that struggle for identity and direction. Curator: Indeed, it could be read as a visual commentary on Ukraine's path post-2014—its struggle between aspiration and stark realities. Kakhidze frequently uses narrative art as a vehicle to convey experiences with complex geopolitical events. Editor: These conflicting sides provide a palpable push-pull feeling. Ultimately, this simple notebook piece serves as a poignant visual of a mind grappling with significant changes. Curator: I appreciate the nuance between spontaneity and deliberateness. Thank you for illuminating that! Editor: A pleasure. Its unassuming nature packs a real emotional punch.