Publius Pundit

« Previous · Home · Next »

Another Punch in the Nose from Russia

Filed under: Russia

bluenoses_2.jpg

Almost exactly a year ago, we reported on the shockingly blatant actions of the neo-Soviet Kremlin operated by dictator Vladimir Putin to control what Russian art was allowed to be displayed in the West based on political standards. They're at it again.

As the Moscow Times reports, Russia has banned the above work (showing two Russian policemen in a grove of classic Russian birch trees and made by the same Blue Noses group that was the subject of the earlier attack) and 16 others from traveling to France for an exhibition organized by Moscow's world famous Tretyakov Gallery of Russian Art. The Times reports Culture and Press Minister Alexander Sokolov declaring: "If this exhibition appears there, it will bring shame on Russia, and in this case all of us will bear full responsibility." In response, the Times quotes "Daniil Dondurei, a film critic and editor of the Iskusstvo Kino magazine" as saying "that even the culture minister's personal opinion could now push museum workers across Russia to impose self-censorship." He states: "It's his attempt to outline the future borders of state cultural policy. It's his attempt to erect new ideological barriers."

The Russia Journal exposes how pathetically paranoid this view is, since such images are common in the West -- a sign of our profound strength and Russia's deep abiding weakness.

If actions that bring shame and disgrace upon Russia are of real concern to the Kremlin, then its first step should be to force Putin out of office. How do Russians think the world reacts to the free election of a proud KGB spy to lead Russia barely a decade after the end of the cold war? What is the world to think of Russia crushing the media, killing and jailing political opponents, destroying opposition political parties, sending aid to Iran, Hamas and Hezbollah and reviving the hymn of the Soviet Union? And what, pray tell, will the world think about Putin's Russia repeatedly receiving Africa-like failing scores when its regime is evaluated by international experts on various standards of objective performance?

Do Russians really believe these actions inspire awe and admiration in the West? Is Russia's reputation really so vulnerable than an art exhibition can damage it? If so, Russia's problems are weighty indeed -- and Putin's 70% public approval hardly seems justified.

How long before the Kremlin starts deciding what kind of art Russians themselves are allowed to see? How long before it becomes a crime to make art of this kind, the Noses don't just get punched but jailed? Welcome back to the USSR.

Social Bookmarking:
Del.icio.us this del.icio.us | digg this digg | Add to Technorati technorati | StumbleUpon Toolbar stumble upon | Furl this furl | Reddit this reddit

Comments


tori says:

ITS NOT OUR BUSINESS WHAT THE "USSR" DOES.!! WHAT THE HELL. WE REALLY DON'T WANT TO START THAT SHIT. MAYBE DEMOCROCEY IS NOT FOR ALL.


La Russophobe says:

Hi Tori. Thanks for your well-reasoned and supported comment.

In reply, let me just say this: Tell it to Ronald Reagan.


Artfldgr says:

Welcome back to the USSR.


Been away so long I hardly knew the place
Gee, it's good to be back home
Leave it till tomorrow to unpack my case
Honey disconnect the phone
I'm back in the USSR
You don't know how lucky you are, boy
Back in the US
Back in the US
Back in the USSR
......
Oh, show me round your snow peaked
mountain way down south
Take me to you daddy's farm
Let me hear you balalaika's ringing out
Come and keep your comrade warm
I'm back in the USSR
Hey, You don't know how lucky you are, boy
Back in the USSR
Oh, let me tell you honey

Thanks for telling us LaRussophobe! : )

another song that fits the useful idiots would be "My heart belongs to daddy". all you have to do is think of dadda as stalin or putin, and it sounds like hard leftists in blind love. (even more interesting when you translate Da)


Yes, my heart belongs to Daddy
So I simply couldn't be bad
Yes, my heart belongs to Daddy
Da, Da, Da, Da, Da, Da, Da, Da, DAAAAD

So I want to warn you laddie
Though I know that you're perfectly swell
That my heart belongs to Daddy
Cause my Daddy, he treats it so well


John says:

Two male Russians engaged in a lip lock is not art, it is gross and demeaning.


La Russophobe says:

JOHN:

Oh, you mean if it was two female Russians, it would be hot?

You know, I believe Vincent Van Gogh was once called "gross and demeaning." Maybe that's why he only sold two pictures while he was alive.

Many people also thought the idea of women voting was gross and demeaning. For 150 years they thought that in America after the Constitution was signed.

Think about it, dude. Your head needs work.


marc in calgary says:

Clearly this exhibit needs to take a tour of Tehran.
Oh I am certain they've never seen anything like this before, after all, everyone in Iran is normal.


Russian says:

How long before the Kremlin starts deciding what kind of art Russians themselves are allowed to see? How long before it becomes a crime to make art of this kind, the Noses don't just get punched but jailed? Welcome back to the USSR.

Wrong! The article taken from Russian media. So, Russians are allowed not only to see any kind of art but to express their dissatsmaction with the Russian Minister of Culture if they want.
The "Blue Noses" is a provocative, avanguarg group of artists. It has had a lot of exhibitions in Russia and abroad with no problem at all. They are kind of well known. And their art-works were bought by a few museums and private collectioners. They like making fun of things and people (like putting Putin, G. Bush and Osama ben Landen together in the same bed) and call themself "hooligans". One of the founders of the group Vyacheslav Mizin, for example created a series of photo-art works depicting his own penis in different settings.

The exhibition in France, where this work was intended to be shown is planned and sponsored by "Tretyakovka" National Museum of Russian Art. This is not a private gallery but the National, state museum. So the state has the right to choose what to exhibit.

Though I find the artists funny (not Van Gog-s, for sure) the minister had that right, to ban the picture of a couple of "gay cops" from representing modern Russian Art in France.
You can see the works of the groupe here
(Watch the video "Americanizer")
http://teterin.livejournal.com/253588.html

or here (nice allusion to 9/11)
http://e-gallery.guelman.ru/authors/bluenoses/lady-death-20050413172711/

and here

http://e-gallery.guelman.ru/authors/bluenoses/4017a5d91bfe3/

a lot of their stuff here

http://e-gallery.guelman.ru/authors/bluenoses/

or specially for La Russophobe:

http://e-gallery.guelman.ru/authors/bluenoses/413c725b3f1c6/

I think there are better works in Russian Art, not that funny though.



Artfldgr says:

Maplethorpe, and the national endowments for the arts in the US are sitting and smiling.


wow gold says:

publius








warhammergold says:

[url=http://www.vipwarhammergold.com/][b]warhammer gold[/b][/url]
[url=http://www.vipwarhammergold.com/news/news.html][b]buy warhammer gold[/b][/url]
[url=http://www.bestwarhammer.com/][b]warhammer gold[/b][/url]
[url=http://www.bestwarhammer.com/news/news.html][size=4][b]buy warhammer gold[/b][/url]
[url=http://www.aocsale.com/][b]aoc gold[/b][/url]
[url=http://www.aocsale.com/aoc-news/][b]age of conan gold[/b]
[url=http://www.game4power.com/][b]wow gold[/b][/url]
[url=http://www.game4power.com/news/][b]buy wow gold[/b][/url]
[url=http://www.wowgoldone.com/][b]wow gold[/b][/url]
[url=http://www.wowgoldone.com/][b]buy wow gold[/b][/url]
[url=http://www.game4power.com/][b]world of warcraft gold[/b][/url]
[url=http://www.wowgoldone.com/][b]world of warcraft gold[/b][/url]
[url=http://www.gamelevelup.com/][b]wow power leveling[/b][/url]
[url=http://itemstores.com/][b]wow item[/b][/url]

warhammer gold




Post a comment


(will not be published)



Remember Me?

(you may use HTML tags for style)




TrackBack

TrackBack URL: http://publiuspundit.com/mt/contages.cgi/423