Pussy Riot's Nadya Tolokonnikova Added to Russia's Wanted List After "Putin's Ashes"
“I’m not a soldier, I’m an artist, art is my weapon. Glad to see they are scared.”
Revolutionary political artist Nadya Tolokonnikova, leader of Pussy Riot, has been placed on Russia‘s Wanted List.
After announcing her first U.S. art exhibit at the Jeffrey Deitch gallery titled “Putin’s Ashes,” Tolokonnikova appears to have now been targeted. The short art film featured a 10 x 10 portrait of Russian president Vladimir Putin being burned to the ground, with 12 women partaking in the ceremony. “In order to join, women were required to experience acute hatred and resentment toward the Russian president,” the exclusive press release reads. “Most of the participants were either Ukrainian, Belarusian, or Russian.” Tolokonnikova then “incorporated [the ashes] into her objects that are being presented alongside her short art film.”
According to Tolokonnikova, “The courts will sit on these records until they want to do something about it, or something bigger comes up. I announced Putin’s Ashes at Jeffrey Deitch’s Gallery and received attention from The New Yorker, LA Times and other large western media. *Coincidentally* my Instagram vanished and this new criminal case was announced within a week of the show. Police detained friends and family, and my lawyers sent me the documents they found.”
Being targeted for her work is not new to Tolokonnikova as she was once arrested for her revolutionary art. As she shared, “Any truly political artist risks their personal safety for the sake of their art… It is not a new concept for me. They threaten us but we cannot show fear. I will use the tools I have as an artist and crypto enthusiast to keep fighting. I’m not a soldier, I’m an artist, art is my weapon. Glad to see they are scared.”
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