Untitled 2022

Alevtyna Kakhidze made this untitled artwork with felt-tip pen on paper. Its childlike drawing style belies the complexity of its subject matter. The drawing depicts the return of Serbia to, perhaps, the international political stage. It’s important to consider the socio-political context of this drawing. Kakhidze is a Ukrainian artist, and this drawing likely dates from after 2014 when Russia annexed Crimea, a move in which Serbia was seen to be an ally of Russia. Serbia is represented here by a large man in a suit standing on the shoulders of smaller figures. The writing beneath them in Ukrainian says ‘titushky,’ a term for thugs hired to cause trouble at political rallies. At the bottom, we see the depiction of a court building in Zaporizhia, Ukraine. This juxtaposition of imagery suggests a pointed commentary on international politics. The role of the historian is to unpack these symbols and allusions, drawing on resources such as political speeches, news reports, and social media to illuminate their meaning. Only then can we understand the artist’s critique of contemporary social structures.