Exlibris of Valeria Slavnikova 1981

Oleksandr Aksinin made this intaglio print, Exlibris of Valeria Slavnikova, with incredible precision. Look closely! The image holds a heavy black oval, against which a razor blade stands in stark relief. You can see every tiny dot and line meticulously etched, building up the contrast and texture. It makes me think about Aksinin bent over the plate, totally absorbed, each mark a tiny decision in a world of infinite possibilities. What was he thinking? The skull designs on the blade suggest a kind of dark humor, a fascination with mortality. There's a touch of Goya in that sensibility, or maybe even hints of the Surrealists. Artists have always been drawn to the darker side of life. But it is also beautiful. Ultimately, Aksinin's print reminds us that artists, across time, inspire each other to confront those big questions. Each artwork is an act of exploration, and of hope.