Keep the Aspidistra Flying (2026) Original Ink Drawing by Vasyl Koval

“Keep the Aspidistra Flying” is a striking monochrome drawing built around the dramatic contrast between a dark background and bright, energetic white lines. At the center of the composition stands an aspidistra, its long leaves spreading outward and filling the space with a strong, almost architectural rhythm. The plant becomes more than a simple botanical subject - it appears as a resilient presence within an urban environment.

The title, taken from the handwritten inscription in the artwork, adds a literary and slightly ironic dimension to the image. The aspidistra has long been associated with endurance, persistence, and the quiet survival of everyday life. Here, its leaves seem to emerge from the surrounding darkness, suggesting movement, vitality, and the determination to keep growing.

The expressive linework gives the work the immediacy of a spontaneous urban sketch, while the deep black-and-white contrast creates a graphic, contemporary character. The result is a playful yet thoughtful meditation on resilience, ordinary beauty, and the stubborn persistence of life.

Materials used:

white ink

Details:

• Ink drawing on Paper
• One of a kind artwork
• Size: 15 x 21 x 0.1cm (unframed) / 15 x 21cm (actual image size)
• Signed on the front
• Style: Graphic
• Subject: Still life