Untitled 2022

Alevtyna Kakhidze made this untitled artwork on paper on March 18th, 2022. It’s handwritten, using red and black ink with slightly irregular script, like notes on a studio wall. It's a call for applications to research "Colonial Practices of Russia," aimed at researchers from Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus. The words “till we have Ukrainians” seem to have been added spontaneously in red ink. It makes me think about the urgency and immediacy of the piece. I can imagine the artist carefully choosing each word to convey a message rooted in personal experience and political awareness. The contrast between the formal call for research and the added personal touch creates a powerful tension. The materiality of the ink on paper— the way the colors pop—suggests both protest and resilience. There is this incredible sense of humanity and empathy in her work, inviting us to reflect on the role of art in addressing urgent social and political issues.