Roitburd VS Caravaggio. Opus # 006 2009

Alexander Roitburd made "Roitburd VS Caravaggio. Opus # 006" as part of a dialogue with the past and an engagement with contemporary social issues. Roitburd came of age during the collapse of the Soviet Union and Ukrainian independence, a time of social and political upheaval, and cultural re-evaluation, which profoundly influenced his artistic perspective. This artwork layers Roitburd’s own visual language over the compositions of the old masters, creating a dialogue between historical narratives and contemporary experiences. These additions don't simply deface, but rather re-interpret classic ideals through a modern lens, questioning notions of beauty, power, and representation. Roitburd once said that "painting is a way to understand the world." He disrupts traditional representations, prompting viewers to question the stories we inherit and the values they carry. What emotions does this layering of images evoke in you? Ultimately, the work invites us to reflect on how history informs our present, challenging us to consider whose stories are told and whose are left out.