Alexander Roitburd through the eyes of a friend: an interview with Felix Pustynin
The methods of his creative work always balanced on the edge: between classical heritage and postmodern play, between tragedy and humor, between deep philosophy and daring mockery. This is precisely why his works today are perceived as unique keys—to understanding the man himself, to reading the era, and even to comprehending Odessa. But Alexander was more than just a great creator. He nurtured a new generation of artists and introduced the names of ambitious authors to the general public. It was thanks to him that many young talents gained access to galleries and professional recognition. For instance, APL-315—the subject of one of our previous interviews—was noticed by Roitburd and, upon his recommendation, introduced to the art communities. His socio-political role in Odessa is also significant. In 2013–2014, Roitburd was an active participant in Euromaidan. Art critic Alisa Lozhkina recalled: "One of the first to join this carnival-like Maidan was Alexander Roitburd. He became an active participant in the first pacifist, small, and joyful wave of protests. Roitburd's activity on Facebook was so prominent that within a few days, he became a hero of the Maidan and a tastemaker for the creative class." His presence in the information space was so vivid that a separate section of Antin Mukharsky’s book "Maidan. Revolution of the Spirit" (2014) was dedicated to Roitburd’s Facebook posts, titled "FB-Diary. Selected. Maidan 2013–14." Later, in 2018, the artist signed an open letter from Ukrainian cultural figures in support of Oleg Sentsov, demonstrating his unwavering civic stance and European choice.