An exhibition at the Louisiana Museum of Modern Art in Denmark documents how this women’s collective made performance the best weapon against the Russian leader
Hundreds of duct taped photos, protest videos, songs, court rulings, messages written on walls, even Instagram posts… The exhibition “Velvet Terrorism: Pussy Riot’s Russia”, which is open through January 14, 2024 at the Louisiana Museum of Modern Art in Denmark, documents over 10 years of protests, spontaneous performances, songs and activism by the Russian feminist collective. The Pussy Riot were “born” in Moscow in 2011 as a protest against his regime Vladimir Putin.
The fear comes later when you watch one of the videos: two policemen summarily drag a young woman dressed in black and wearing military boots. He screams and struggles to free himself, but to no avail. Just before she is put into a van, another woman turns on the camera and records the scene with her mobile phone, just before she too is arrested. This is how the demonstrations are in Putin’s Russia, writes, among other things, in an article by “EL PAIS”. As if chosen at random, a person is captured and subdued. Voices are heard, the tension is palpable.
The shocking videos are combined with information about the fate of prisoners, prison sentences, electronic wristbands used to monitor the location of political prisoners at all times, as well as photographs of people with their faces smeared with a green liquid used to attacking opponents. Usually, the fluid is difficult to remove, which can cause problems when participating in public activities.
Pussy Riot’s work draws elements from Dadaism, Fluxus and 20th century activism, based on bringing performance art into public spaces. In addition to surprise acts, they write books, tour with their music, participate in debates and give political speeches. A mixture of bravery and humor, Pussy Riot’s performances represent some of the most powerful political action of the 20th century.
The Punk Prayer, which satirized the union between the Kremlin and the Orthodox Church, features prominently in the exhibit. The prayer in question took place in 2012 at the Cathedral of Christ the Savior in Moscow. At the main altar, four girls in miniskirts and colorful socks shout and chant slogans criticizing the political situation. Three members of the group were arrested and sentenced to two years in prison, on charges of vandalism. Protesters are paying a high price in Russia. Bishop Tikhon Shevkunov, a friend of the Russian president, called the sight “velvet terrorism”, which proved to be a good title for an exhibition.
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This wasn’t the first time Pussy Riot made headlines around the world. Just a year earlier, when the Russian president announced that he was running for re-election, the group launched one of its spontaneous, highly expressive protest actions in Moscow’s Red Square, next to Lenin’s tomb. The rhythm from the guitars accompanied the voices of Pussy Riot, dressed in their usual uniforms. Their protests always include Putin, LGBTIQ+ rights, the release of political prisoners, and most recently, protesting the war in Ukraine.
The Louisiana Museum – located in Humlebaek, next to the Baltic Sea, about 25 miles from Copenhagen – has become a leading place for reflection on contemporary art. The exhibition is the first of its kind in the world and is part of the museum’s tradition of dealing with the present, freedom of expression, democracy and human rights.
The exhibition was created with the help of Maria Alyokhina, a key member of the Pussy Riot group. She is known as “Masha” and is known to the Russian authorities, as she says she has often been arrested on false charges.
In an interview at the museum during the preparation of the exhibition, the activist explained that the Russian system aims to create fear in the population and paralyze it. “We think smiling and humor help break that fear,” she says. “Masha” describes the current regime as totalitarian and the progression from 2012, when she was held in a Moscow cathedral, to “hell” today, a journey that reached its lowest point with Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022. she herself left Russia last year – disguised as a food delivery man. “The world must unite and protect Ukraine… It’s a constant shame, I don’t want Russia to win,” he points out.
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Regarding Putin’s re-election in 2012 and the beginnings of their fight, “Masha” emphasizes that her band had already warned about it. “We spoke in various parliaments, I gave interviews, I spoke to politicians, opponents and people on the street, but it wasn’t just me. It wasn’t just Pussy Riot – the opposition warned of the dangers of the regime, but commercial interests became more important than human life.” The fight of Pussy Riot, she says, developed “step by step… When we see something unfair, we react. There was no plan of resistance, although revolution was in our hearts. We used everything we had, we were naked in front of the system, but we did something.”
Source :Skai
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