Tõnis Vint. PostA 1984

This intaglio print called 'Tõnis Vint. PostA' was made by Oleksandr Aksinin in 1984. It’s all about the push and pull of black and white, the way they make each other sing. It’s a real dance of precision! Aksinin uses the visual language of stamps to present his fantastical image. The overall surface feels almost like a collage with lots of little detailed areas. Take the central figure; the way it’s formed from geometric shapes is almost robotic, contrasting with the botanical forms which surround it. Aksinin is engaging in a wider conversation about the purpose of art and its ability to transcend borders and political divides. I think that Aksinin would get on well with someone like the surrealist Leonora Carrington, another artist committed to the power of the imagination! The best art refuses to give you easy answers; instead, it invites you to ask more questions.