Russia’s after-perestroika life with its adjustments to the capitalism, world market, freedom of speech and expression, mushrooming list of billionaires and oligarchs, attracts the attention once again.
Russia’s artists’ group “Blue Noses” presents a controversial work of art, which has world talking.
The Web page of the “Blue noses” art group features a picture of four people wearing Russian style winter hats and emphasizing blue noses, which hints of Siberia and cold. Blue Noses Group
Those in the know would immediately connect this image to the political prisoners of old days, before perestroika, Russia, when people with different views, than preferred by the Soviet regime, were sent to live in Siberia. The controversy of the group is also eponymous to 1960 group of artists, who are known as “peredvizhnikis”.
See the picture and read about it here: www.guardian.co.uk
Here is the excerpt from “Bloomberg’s” article:
“One of the embargoed items is “The Era of Mercy,” showing two policemen kissing and caressing each other. The censorship produced the opposite effect to that desired — the photo by the Blue Noses (a.k.a. Slava Mizin and Alexander Shaburov), was published by newspapers all over the world.”
Read the article: Blue Noses at www.bloomberg.com
Another Bloomberg’s article, covering the Kandinsky Prize Award:
“Kissing Policemen
Last night’s ceremony began an hour late because some billionaire guests were caught in a Moscow traffic jam. When the ceremony finally got under way, two threatening police officers entered the hall from opposite sides. They moved to the center of the stage, embraced and passionately kissed as the crowd burst into applause.
The performance was a clear sign of support for “Era of Mercy” (2005), a color photograph by the Blue Noses art duo. At the end of October, Russia’s Culture Ministry banned the image from an exhibition of Russian contemporary art in Paris. The picture shows two Russian police officers locking lips in a birch grove. The ministry said the work was a “disgrace.”
Read more: Kandinsky Prize
Look at the works of this group at Artnet: (Warning: be prepared): Blue Noses Group Works
Info About Soviet Nonconformist Art from Wikipedia: Soviet Nonconformist Art
“Socialist realism interrupted the natural development of modernist avant-garde in Russia.”
Another absolutely fascinating read on the subject of art in Russia, here:
Shalin_epstein
Book pertaining to subject is available at Ransom Russian Art John by McPhee.
