Untitled 2022

Curator: Before us is an “Untitled” drawing on paper, created by Alevtyna Kakhidze in 2022 using ink. It’s open on two pages of a sketchbook. Editor: Striking! So raw and immediate. The thick ink line is incredibly expressive for such a rudimentary drawing. I feel like I am looking at a glimpse into the artist's private musings. Curator: Exactly. Looking closer, you can discern a portrait, quickly sketched with notations in Ukrainian. What is significant here is its origin in the artist's sketchbook – traditionally a space for experimentation and planning now presented as the final artwork. We see the process laid bare. Editor: The composition is interesting. The figure is centrally placed within a rather ungainly, boxy border, lending it a stylized and, perhaps, a self-aware formality. It’s also rather witty! I like the crown atop the head. Very direct! Curator: This resonates strongly with Kakhidze's overall practice. Her art consistently challenges established conventions. Consider that the very act of taking these personal notes, typically for private consumption, and elevating them to the status of displayed artwork questions traditional art boundaries. The medium – simple ink on paper – becomes secondary to the concept. Editor: I agree, and even though there are contextual factors at play, you cannot escape the inherent structure; look at the interplay between the drawn figure and the flatness of the paper, further highlighted by the facing blank page. This relationship dictates how we interpret the image; it is what defines our interaction with it! Curator: And how the material context further emphasizes its inherent value. Knowing this began in a personal sketchbook adds layers to our appreciation of Kakhidze’s craft. Her work truly captures the labor of image production within consumerist society. Editor: Very true! It’s incredible how this seemingly simple sketch provokes so much debate about the artwork’s intent and physical rendering! Curator: Yes, a humble sketch which invites reflection. Editor: Indeed, a fascinating, visually stimulating piece.