Down with the KGB

It's no big surprise that the Russian government consist of not the most open minded diplomats. So when art collective VOINA put a larger than life male genital part across from an ex-KGB building it warranted them an immediate arrest. The VOINA is a controversial anarchist Russian art group with performance art including public hangings and orgys. With Bansky raising funds for their defence the group is all a buzz. Don't Panic UK  interviewed a few of the members of VOINA (answering from jail) to explain the madness or genius behind the work.

What do you think about a commentary on activism or radical art in Russia?


N.S.: Contemporary art is, first of all, an art activism for us, and not the piles of the art-rubbish kept in the galleries. Today activism is the only form of the radical left-wing art, which we are trying to revive in Russia. It’s important to understand that there is no any other radical art in Russia, except for the one represented by a dozen of art-activists.

A.P-S: Anarch-art-activism is the only lively activity in Russia. Nowadays, when even hope for democracy in Russia is ruined, painting flowers and pussy cats or making any other “pure” art, lacking a socio-political content, is to support the right-wing authorities. The symbol of anarchy - a skull-and-bones - has to be painted right at the Russia's parliament building. That’s what we did Our Jolly Roger laser projection was almost 50 meters high, covering almost the whole front of the White House in Moscow.

 I was introduced to this story from the Juxtapoz website.