Angelus 2008

Here we have "Angelus," a work by Alexander Roitburd, an artist who passed away in 2021. Roitburd was a Ukrainian artist, so it's difficult not to see his works through the lens of national identity and post-Soviet experience. "Angelus" presents an unusual scene: Two figures in orange robes play instruments connected by umbilical cords to disembodied hands and a rodent-like creature, while antlers float eerily above. These elements speak to the complex layers of identity, history, and power dynamics that Roitburd often explored. The spiritual overtones of the title clash with the painting's unsettling imagery, creating tension and intrigue. There’s a sense of the carnivalesque here, reflecting on themes of life and death, tradition and modernity, and the often fraught relationship between humanity and nature. Roitburd seems to be pushing us to reflect on our own connections – to each other, to the past, and to the unknown.