Morning in a pine forest 2009

Alexander Roitburd’s ‘Morning in a pine forest’ sees the artist create a dreamscape with oil paint. The colours are rich and dark, setting a kind of moody stage. The layering of greens and browns in the background hints at a process of building up the image, stroke by stroke. Now, look closely at the skin of the figures, particularly the one on the right. It's not just a flat surface; it's built up with layers of paint. The way the light catches it, you can almost feel the texture. The whited-out faces almost look like masks, a striking contrast against the sensuality of the rest of the bodies. This effect is further emphasised by the garish reds and pinks of the figures attire, in stark contrast to the naturalistic setting. The little bear in the background looks like it's been placed in the painting almost as an afterthought! It's as if he's playing with the familiar subject matter of Shishkin, but giving it a contemporary, even provocative, twist. In this way the piece feels like a conversation between the old and the new, the classical and the utterly strange.