Untitled 2022

Alevtyna Kakhidze made this drawing with felt tip pens, it feels like a spontaneous outburst or the first sketch of a bigger idea. The marks are urgent, and the composition is raw. Look at how the black ink bleeds slightly into the paper's surface, it gives the drawing a certain presence and immediacy. The red ink looks scratchy, almost angry, like a scar across the landmass at the bottom. The figures are just outlines, but they carry so much weight, especially the one waving the Ukrainian flag. The artist’s questioning hand-written text is a formal compositional element, tying the image together. The contrast between the serious subject matter and the almost childlike drawing style is powerful, reminding me a little of Philip Guston’s later work. Like Guston, Kakhidze isn't afraid to be direct and vulnerable, which is what makes this piece so compelling. It's a reminder that art can be a form of protest, a way to make sense of the world, and a call for change.