Exlibris of K.Sotnyck 1979

This etching titled ‘Exlibris of K. Sotnyck’ was made in 1979 by Oleksandr Aksinin using fine lines to create a surreal and slightly unsettling image. The process of etching itself is about creating marks, and here the artist has made this explicit in the finished work. Look closely and you'll notice how the textures vary across the oval surface; there’s a dense, almost woven pattern surrounding the central figure, which is composed of stacked, bulbous forms held in place by a vertical structure. It has the quality of a weird scientific illustration, like something you’d find in an old textbook. There is an unmistakable erotic quality to the rounded forms of the central figure. Take a look at the cross hatching and the dense patterns of the background. Aksinin's precise technique reminds me of the visionary world-building of artists like Paul Klee, while its bawdy, cartoonish elements perhaps hint at the influence of artists like Red Grooms. But the combination of humor and the unsettling quality feels all Aksinin’s own. In the end, we’re left with a piece that’s open to many interpretations, a testament to the artist's skill.