Three princesses of the Underground Kingdom 2013

Editor: This is "Three Princesses of the Underground Kingdom," painted in 2013 by Alexander Roitburd, using oil paint. The contrast between the sensuality of the female forms and the unsettling presence of the insects is so striking. What historical context might illuminate this rather disturbing image? Curator: It’s certainly a powerful piece. Considering Roitburd's background, growing up in Soviet Ukraine and later witnessing the social and political upheavals, these figures could symbolize the corrupted beauty or decaying ideals of a post-Soviet world. Think about how mythology and eroticism were often suppressed, becoming 'underground' themes. What effect do you think that censorship and then liberation have on art and public perception? Editor: That's fascinating. I hadn’t considered the Soviet influence. The Neo-Expressionist style also feels deliberate. The raw brushstrokes and slightly distorted figures could be seen as a rejection of the polished, idealized representations promoted by social realism, no? Curator: Exactly! And the 'underground kingdom' could also refer to marginalized groups or hidden aspects of society that Neo-Expressionism often sought to expose. Those cockroaches, are they simply shocking imagery, or something more for you? Do they evoke thoughts of hidden truths and silenced voices? Editor: Perhaps they represent something that is normally reviled in our society, crawling all over an ideal image of feminine beauty. Is the viewer meant to acknowledge what's conventionally unseen or unseenable? Curator: Precisely. And by placing them on these ‘princesses,’ he challenges traditional notions of beauty, power, and societal expectations, using those neo-expressionist techniques as a visceral tool for critique. How do you think the artist pushes boundaries, inviting conversation on a sensitive issue? Editor: I’m seeing how the piece encourages us to challenge our pre-conceived notions of beauty and power, shaped as they are by a complex socio-political backdrop. Thank you. Curator: Absolutely. This artwork makes it possible to connect the personal and the political with artistic styles, for new narratives that challenge us.