Three princesses of the Underground Kingdom 2013

"Three Princesses of the Underground Kingdom" (2013) by Ukrainian artist Alexander Roitburd (1961-2021) depicts three nude women with cockroaches on their bodies. The painting is a commentary on the grotesque and the beauty of the mundane. Roitburd’s work is known for its exploration of the dark and often unsettling aspects of human existence. The juxtaposition of the female figures with insects suggests the artist’s interest in the fragility of human nature and the inevitable decay of the body. Cockroaches, a symbol of resilience and adaptability, might also be interpreted as a representation of the women's strength or their ability to thrive in any environment. The painting's visual style is characterized by a combination of realism and surrealism, creating a disturbing and unsettling effect on the viewer.