Exlibris of Kumanovskys 1977

Oleksandr Aksinin made this etching in 1977; it's called "Exlibris of Kumanovskys." It's a mind-bending print, where a human figure is perched above water with strange architectural elements. I imagine Aksinin hunched over his plate, carefully scratching away at the surface. You can see these tiny, intricate lines building up this whole mysterious world. What's going on here? Is that a turtle? And what’s with the person looking out? There is a playfulness here, too. This reminds me that being an artist is kind of like being a magician; you are pulling things out of thin air, conjuring up images that didn't exist before. Aksinin is building upon the traditions of printmaking while making it totally his own. Artists are always looking at each other’s work, riffing off ideas, and pushing things further. To me, this print is a testament to that ongoing conversation, a small but potent contribution to the ever-evolving world of art.