Roitburd VS Caravaggio. Opus # 004 2009

Alexander Roitburd made "Roitburd VS Caravaggio. Opus # 004" using oils. The mark making, especially the linear additions, speaks to the freedom of Roitburd's approach. He builds a bridge between the past and present, chaos and order, and even the sacred and the profane. The surface is a conversation – an argument, even – between different modes of seeing and feeling. Look at how he lets the paint drip and bleed, refusing to be contained by the traditional forms, or by good taste, I guess. Then there are these almost diagrammatic lines that overlay the old master's forms. The painting is like a battleground of art history, where Roitburd grapples with his artistic ancestors. Artists like Francis Picabia, who also didn't give a hoot about conventions, come to mind. Ultimately, art is an ongoing dialogue, and Roitburd injects his own voice into the mix, leaving us with more questions than answers. And that’s a good thing.