Exlibris of Zvir.O. 1976

Editor: This is “Exlibris of Zvir.O.” made in 1976 by Oleksandr Aksinin, it’s an engraving. It looks like some kind of surreal scene, and there are a lot of figures packed into the frame. How do you interpret this work? Curator: Well, consider the title "Exlibris," meaning "from the books of." This small print was created to be pasted inside a book as a mark of ownership, so what could Aksinin be implying about the book owner? Editor: Hmm… ownership. Maybe the figures crowded at the top are all the ideas contained within the books, trying to get out? Curator: That's an interesting start. Notice how the image is split into sections. At the top, we see those crowded figures – perhaps representing a collective consciousness or shared knowledge. And beneath that, there is an opening to a prison like place? Editor: It looks like a structure with ladders and what appears to be a figure crawling beneath, next to the words “Exlibris”. And, oh, below, there's a walled section, almost like an entrance or a foundation, it looks flooded… What do you make of the ladders? Curator: Ladders often symbolize a bridge between realms, a connection between the conscious and unconscious. The well, the figures at the top…It suggests a descent into the self, or maybe even into history, don't you think? Perhaps the collector’s interest allows them access to a historical or subconscious experience? Editor: So, owning the book provides access. I’m still stuck on the figure beneath, however, he seems to have nowhere to climb, stuck with no opportunity to get out of the… well. Curator: Perhaps Aksinin questions our relationship to knowledge. Are we truly ascending through enlightenment, or are we just crawling through pre-determined constructs? Editor: That's a darker way to interpret it. I hadn’t considered it could be a more cynical observation on knowledge. Thanks for highlighting those visual cues.