About
Welcome to Underbelly Archives!
Underbelly Archives is the graphic memoir website of starving artist Alexander Shapiro. Here, one can experience the process of how the struggle of one individual evolves into drawings, writings, photographs and videos….
un·der·bel·ly [uhn-der-bel-ee]
noun.
1. the lower abdomen, as of an animal’s body–(the location of Alex’s agita.)
2. the lower surface of an object; underside–(the frequent location of Alex’s mood.)
3. a vulnerable area; weak point–(Alex’s discipline, focus and propensity for shitty luck)
4. a dark, seamy, often hidden area, as the underbelly of society. (where Alex often inhabits)
Alexander Shapiro is a starving, neurotic, New York cartoonist who strives to elevate suffering to a high art. He likes peanut butter and can touch his tongue to his nose, so if you put peanut butter on his nose he probably would be able to lick it off. He shares his life with an ancient chihuahua, who is very wise and magical and if you rub her head she will grant you three wishes. Not your wishes. Hers. Alex has drawn cartoons for magazines and newspapers and on the streets of New York City. He also teaches cartooning and animation to young people as a visiting instructor in the New York City public schools through such organizations as Young Audiences of New York, as well as at the California College of the Arts summer program, and at the Jamaica Center of Arts and Learning in Queens, NY. You might think that working with young people would keep Alex young, but in fact they are trying to kill him. Of course, Alex believes everything is trying to kill him, and that is part of his unique charm.
