Avignon Girls. Version 2013

Alexander Roitburd’s painting employs the traditional medium of oil paint to create a scene that’s both familiar and surreal. The artist’s technique emphasizes brushwork, building up layers of color and texture on the canvas. Roitburd's style is characterized by his juxtaposition of classical elements with contemporary and often provocative themes. In “Avignon Girls. Version,” we see a reinterpretation of Picasso’s famous “Les Demoiselles d’Avignon,” yet Roitburd infuses his work with cultural and political commentary specific to his Ukrainian background. The figures and objects appear to have a dreamlike quality, enhanced by the rich, saturated colors and the slightly distorted perspective. The inclusion of unconventional elements, like the iguana, challenges traditional notions of beauty and decorum often associated with fine art. The painting encourages us to question the established norms of art history, and to appreciate the artist's skill in blending the familiar with the unexpected. Roitburd makes us reflect on art's role in representing and challenging societal values.