Exlibris G. D. 1974

Curator: This is “Exlibris G. D.”, a graphic art print made in 1974 by Oleksandr Aksinin. Editor: Well, that's immediately whimsical. The drawing is dominated by a squat elephant rendered in an almost diagrammatic style. The rough-hewn lines add to the charm, and is that a peace sign on one of its legs? Curator: It is! Aksinin was working in Soviet Ukraine at the time. His style blends elements of surrealism and folk art, often with coded symbolism reflecting the socio-political context. These ex libris prints, essentially bookplates, allowed artists like Aksinin to express themselves more freely. The limited scale circumvented tighter control imposed on larger, more public artworks. Editor: So this playful exterior hints at something deeper. I find the elephant, weighed down by a bundle marked in Cyrillic, especially evocative. What’s the significance of the train at the bottom with "Ex Libris G.D." written on its cars? It's like a tiny, hopeful caravan. Curator: The "Ex Libris" indicates this was a personal bookplate designed for someone with the initials G. D.. The elephant, a symbol of memory and wisdom, combined with the packed bundle— “book with a burden" the Cyrillic roughly translates to—suggests the weight and importance of knowledge, perhaps knowledge under duress. Editor: The burden of knowledge. It makes me think about what was deemed permissible to read and share under Soviet rule. Aksinin sneaks in subversive gestures in an accessible way. It is subtle, yet very profound, as well. Curator: Absolutely, and it highlights how art becomes this vehicle for quiet resistance. Even in something as unassuming as a bookplate. Editor: It’s amazing how a small piece like this, born of a specific historical moment, can still speak volumes today about freedom, expression, and the power of symbols. Curator: Precisely. Art as a silent language, still carrying stories across time and cultures.